Infielder Daniel Descalso pitches for D-backs in ninth inning

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been trying to keep their bullpen as fresh as possible making their way through the first half of the season.

So, when Kris Medlen exited the game after four innings of seven-run work, it seemed ideal to not waste valuable arms like Yoshihisa Hirano, Archie Bradley and Brad Boxberger.

T.J. McFarland entered and did well, going 4.1 innings and giving up only one earned run.

He couldn’t make it through the ninth, though, and with only two outs left in an 8-0 game, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo brought in infielder Daniel Descalso to get the last two outs for the Arizona pitching staff.

Descalso, of course, has done this before.

He pitched twice for the D-backs last season, becoming the first position player in franchise history to make more than one appearance as a pitcher in one season.

Over his three appearances in his career, Descalso had given up zero baserunners in 2.1 innings.

That streak continued Friday night.

He got Houston center fielder Jake Marisnick to fly out to left field and starting pitcher Gerrit Cole struck out looking on all three pitches, giving Descalso his first-career strikeout as a pitcher.

To Cole’s credit, he struck out a career-high 16 hitters.

The fans at Chase Field were loud for every pitch, even getting on their feet for the 0-2 count to Cole.

Along with Jarrod Dyson’s robbery of a home run, fans got two moments they won’t soon forget despite the final score.

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