Yesterday (September 5), Reds’ right-hander Mike Lorenzen became only the second major leaguer to earn a win on the mound, play in the field and play a position (other than pitcher) in the field – all in the same game. The other? Babe Ruth.
Lorenzen came in from the bullpen in the top of the seventh (replacing Robert Stephenson) with the Reds leading the Phillies 5-4. He faced four batters, notching one strikeout and giving up a game-tying home run to Jay Bruce. (That long ball would be the key to Lorenzen’s appearance in the “win” column.) The Reds scored a go-ahead run on Jose Iglesias’ pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the inning.
Lorenzen pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. Then, in the bottom of the inning, he came to the plate with one on and two out – and hit home run to left-center (his first of the year) – expanding the lead to 8-5.
In the top of the ninth, another Reds’ Iglesias (closer Raisel) replaced Lorenzen on the mound, but Lorenzen’s game was not over. He moved to center field. Iglesias pitched a 1-2-3 ninth (Lorenzen did not have a play.)
Babe Ruth enjoyed a three-way day (pitching victory, home run, turn in the field) on June 13, 1921. On that date, Ruth started on the mound for the Yankees against the Tigers and pitched five innings (five hits, four runs/three earned, seven walks and one strikeout), picking up the win as the Yankees prevailed 13-8. After his turn on the mound, Ruth moved to CF, where he handled a pair of fly-ball putouts. In five plate appearances, Ruth went two-for-three (both home runs), with two walks, two runs scored and three RBI. Ruth would pitch once more that season (October 1), picking up a second win (despite giving up six runs on nine hits in four innings of relief) as the Yankees topped the Athletics 7-6. Ruth would not take the mound again until 1930.
Lorenzen’s three-way day should come as no surprise (and we may very well see more such performances in his future). Drafted out of Cal State Fullerton (38th pick overall in the 2013 MLB draft), Lorenzen was a 2012 All American and, more relevantly, a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way (College) Player of the Year Award. As a sophomore in 2012, Lorenzen posted a 2-0 record, with 16 saves and a 1.23 earned run average in 20 appearances on the mound. That season, Lorenzen started 57 games in center field for CSF. At the plate, he hit .297, with 20 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 38 runs, 43 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Lorenzen’s stat line in three college seasons was .324-11-128, with 45 steals (in 164 games). On the mound (two seasons), he was 5-0, 1.61, with 35 saves (in 42 appearances).
In five minor-league campaigns, Lorenzen went 9-9, 2.71, with five saves in 59 appearances (31 starts); but did not fare as well at the plate (.175-1-7 in 40 at bats).
As of yesterday, the 27-year-old (in his fifth MLB season) was 1-4, 3.04, with six saves on the mound this season (66 appearances) – and .353-1-4 in 18 at bats. In 2019, he has found himself in the outfield 18 times. For his MLB career (to date), Lorenzen is 19-20, 3.99, with nine saves (243 appearances) and .267-7-22 (101 at bats).
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Jimmie Foxx – Oh, What A Relief!
The Lorenzen/Ruth connection gave me reason to reflect on the pitching career of Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx.
When Neil Armstrong first set foot on the moon, he and all the space scientists were puzzled by an unidentifiable white object. I knew exactly was it was. That was a home run hit off me in 1937 by Jimmie Foxx.
Hall of Fame Pitcher Lefty Gomez
Foxx, nicknamed “The Beast” was known for his prestigious home runs. He hit them high, hard, far and often. In 20 MLB seasons, he hit 534 home runs, leading the four times. The Hall of Famer was also a nine-time All Star, three-time American League MVP and the 1933 AL Triple Crown winner (.356-48-163). Foxx also led his league in batting average twice, RBI three times, runs scored once, and total bases three times. His career batting average was .325 (2,646 hits) and he posted 1,922 RBI and 1,751 runs scored. He was one of the most feared batsmen of his era. He hit 30 or more home runs in 12 straight seasons (1929-40) and drove in 100+ runs in 13 consecutive campaigns (1929-41).
The surprise of Foxx’ stellar career may have come in his final season (1945), when the 37-year-old – a sure Hall of Famer by this time – answered the call when his team (then the Phillies) found itself short of pitching. Foxx who had taken the mound only once in his career (a 1-2-3 inning for the Red Sox in 1939) volunteered to step on the bump and into the breach. How did the veteran do? He made nine appearances, two starts – going 1-0, 1.52 in 22 2/3 innings (fanning ten). (He did give up 14 walks.) With his one clean 1939 inning, Foxx had a .152 career ERA.
Side note: Foxx, signed at 16 and was in the majors at 17. He hit .296, with 10 home runs in 76 games at Class D as a 16-year-old and .327 with one home run in Double A as a 17-year-old.
Jimmie Foxx’ lone career mound win came on August 19th, as his Phillies topped the Reds 4-2. The losing pitcher was another Fox (single X), Reds’ starter Howie Fox.
Primary Resources: MLB.com; Baseball-Reference.com; CBSsports.com
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