Former D-backs utility man Cliff Pennington finally gets to pitch
Oct 20, 2015, 6:16 PM | Updated: 6:26 pm
Cliff Pennington’s Toronto Blue Jays needed the infielder to make the final out in the ninth inning of their playoff game against the Kansas City Royals.
It was hardly significant with the Jays already trailing 12-2, except for the fact that Pennington, who was acquired by Toronto in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, was needed to make that final out by taking the mound as a pitcher.
In doing so, he became the first position player to pitch in a postseason game.
Pennington didn’t look so bad. His fastballs averaged out at 90.7 mph.
Cliff Pennington's average fastball: 90.7 mph
Chris Young's average fastball: 87.9 mph
R.A. Dickey's average fastball: 83.2 mph
— Jon Tayler (@JATayler) October 20, 2015
Cliff Pennington's ALCS debut. @70MPHfastball https://t.co/KXg5CMClhk
— Jim McClintock (@pimpino) October 20, 2015
Before the Jays would go on to lose 14-2 to fall behind Kansas City 3-1 in the ALCS, Pennington allowed a hit that scored two inherited runners. After allowing two more hits, he got out of the inning unscathed and former Arizona teammate, pitcher Brad Ziegler, gave him his props.
Cliff Pennington fulfilling a lifelong dream of pitching in the big leagues…
— Brad Ziegler (@BradZiegler) October 20, 2015
Inherited runner % not good, but 0.00 ERA!
— Brad Ziegler (@BradZiegler) October 20, 2015
When he was with Arizona, Pennington’s pitching ability was known. During a 11-1 loss to the Washington Nationals back in May, D-backs manager Chip Hale nearly turned to the utility man after starter Josh Collmenter was chased after 1.3 innings. Arizona’s bullpen at the time was running on fumes, but the D-backs didn’t have to go to Pennington once Vidal Nuno went 6.2 innings and Enrique Burgos closed the game with equal effectiveness.
“Pennington actually has a pretty good arm,” Hale said at the time.
Now we believe him.
