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 The switch pitcher threw two scoreless innings in the Athletics' 7-4
win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday at Chase Field,
benefiting when shortstop Marcus Semien's two-run single broke a tie
with two outs in the 11th inning.
"To get this first one was very special," Venditte said. "I'm sure
it will sink in somewhere on that flight now, but right now we are
just happy to get that win today."
Venditte, 29, began pitching with both hands at age three with his
father's encouragement, and he became the first true switch pitcher
in the modern era when he joined the A's in June.
Greg Harris threw with both hands in one game for the Montreal Expos
in 1995.
"This is probably the best moment of his career, no doubt," Oakland
manager Bob Melvin said.
Venditte pitched a 1-2-3 10th inning, and the A's got three runs on
four singles and a hit batsman with two outs in the 11th to beat
Brad Ziegler (0-2).
Third baseman Danny Valencia and first baseman Stephen Vogt singled
before catcher Josh Phegley was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Semien grounded an opposite-field single to right field to break a
4-4 tie, and second baseman Eric Sogard followed with a run-scoring
single off right-hander A.J. Schugel.
Venditte gave up a leadoff single in the last of the 11th before
retiring the next three. He is 1-2 with a 3.31 ERA, and lefties are
1-for-20 against him this season. He got both lefties he faced
Sunday.
"It's incredible what he does," Vogt said. "Sure, there are other
people out there who can throw with both hands, but how many people
can pitch at the major league level successfully with both arms?"
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Vogt had three hits, including a homer, as Oakland (57-74) won its
first series since taking three of four against the Houston Astros
from Aug. 6-9.
Left fielder David Peralta had three hits and a homer for Arizona
(63-67), which has lost six of its last seven.
Inciarte singled and scored the tying run on a Peralta sacrifice fly
in the ninth inning, and Inciarte traded words and gestures with
Drew Pomeranz after the Oakland left-hander threw three pitches that
were high and inside.
"It is not fun when a guy is throwing at your head," said Arizona
manager Chip Hale, who went onto the field to speak to Inciarte.
"If you can't pitch inside, you shouldn't throw inside. That is
unacceptable. Hopefully, we will get some new rules where if that
ball is around his head, he gets thrown out of the game
automatically."
(Compiled by Peter Rutherford)
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