Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Angels forced to play Bourjos at second vs. Yanks

Written by 
Published in Baseball
Tuesday, 23 April 2019 01:31

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- For the first time in his professional career, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Peter Bourjos played the infield.

It didn't take long for him to look like he had already been there before.

Bourjos pulled off web-gem wizardry in the top of the 13th inning Monday night of a 4-3, 14-inning loss when, while playing second base for the first time in his career, he dove to his left to stop a hard-hit ground ball from speedy New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner.

Upon recording the out, Bourjos got his share of sarcastic cheers and claps from teammates in the home dugout.

Even his opponents were impressed.

"First of all, to get to it, knock it down, and I thought for sure like, 'How is he going to be able to know how to make that touch throw?' And he did," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone, a former major league infielder himself. "Tough play."

Bourjos' infield appearance was but one of a litany of strange occurrences late in the extra-innings game. As the clock raced past 2 a.m. back on the East Coast, things got wacky.

In addition to Bourjos playing out of position, the Angels -- out of position players when Bourjos entered the game in the 12th as a pinch hitter replacing designated hitter Kevan Smith -- were forced into trotting out a relief pitcher to serve as a pinch runner.

Ultimately, it didn't matter that righty reliever Felix Pena came in as a 12th-inning baserunner. One batter after he entered, the Yankees got out of a possible trouble with an inning-ending ground ball.

Pena made the rare basepath appearance in an American League game because third baseman Zack Cozart was forced to leave after injuring his neck running the bases. Cozart had just taken his turn around second when his teammate, Brian Goodwin, drove in another baserunner with a game-tying single.

As Cozart raced back to second base, where the Yankees threw behind him, he dove awkwardly into the bag. His helmet appeared to come off and hit him in the face just before his head smacked into Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu's shin. After a rather lengthy injury delay, Cozart came out of the game, replaced by Pena.

When it was time for the Angels to head to the field the next half inning, Pena's spot in the order was replaced by relief pitcher Luke Bard, who came on for the 13th. As a result, Bourjos' time as the DH was burned, meaning he had to enter the game on defense. Second base was where he was placed.

Pena wasn't the only Angels pitcher to enter late in a non-traditional role. In the 14th inning, with Los Angeles trailing by a run, starting pitcher Trevor Cahill came out to pinch-hit for Bard. It marked the first time an Angels pitcher had pinch-hit in an American League game since the DH was adopted in 1973.

Cahill, who fouled two pitches off Yankees reliever Jonathan Holder, struck out swinging to end the game.

"He put some good swings together," Holder said of Cahill. "It was definitely different seeing a pitcher up there."

Read 2069 times

Soccer

Sources: Tuchel hires Hilario as England GK coach

Sources: Tuchel hires Hilario as England GK coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThomas Tuchel is set to add Chelsea goalkeeping coach Hilario to hi...

Son lauds Palestine spirit as example to follow

Son lauds Palestine spirit as example to follow

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTottenham captain Son Heung-Min praised the spirit showed by Palest...

Sheeran aids Ipswich transfer pre-Taylor Swift gig

Sheeran aids Ipswich transfer pre-Taylor Swift gig

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsIpswich Town have revealed that pop star and minor shareholder Ed S...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Jenkins becomes Grizzlies' winningest coach

Jenkins becomes Grizzlies' winningest coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Taylor Jenkins has moved to the top of the Memphi...

Warriors' Melton to have season-ending surgery

Warriors' Melton to have season-ending surgery

EmailPrintGolden State Warriors guard De'Anthony Melton will undergo surgery on his left ACL and mis...

Baseball

Is Aaron Judge the best pure home run hitter of all time?

Is Aaron Judge the best pure home run hitter of all time?

EmailOpen Extended ReactionsRemember Aaron Judge? The guy who hit 58 home runs? Had the highest sing...

Sources: New bill seeks to protect minor leaguers

Sources: New bill seeks to protect minor leaguers

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSen. Dick Durbin plans to introduce the Fair Ball Act, a bill that...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated