After pinch-hitting for Manny Machado in the top of the eighth, the San Diego Padres tasked infielder Matthew Batten to pitch the bottom half of the inning. The Los Angeles Dodgers then made their own change in the lopsided game by having Tyler Anderson pinch-hit for Freddie Freeman.
Joey Gallo had singled earlier in the inning and was on first base when Anderson stepped into the batter’s box. “Freddie did not want that at-bat,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the 8-1 win.
“I was going to get him out so he didn’t have to play the ninth. The spot was coming up and I didn’t want to put any of our position players out there against a softball pitcher throwing an eephus ball.”
Anderson took the first pitch for ball, then swung at the next four offerings and struck out. “I was hoping Tyler wouldn’t swing the bat,” Roberts said. “But I guess the competitive juices got going.”
Similar to instances where he approached a position player to pitch, Roberts sprung the pinch-hit opportunity on Anderson.
“I ambushed him,” Roberts said. “He wasn’t ready. He was having a conversation with Kersh.”
Next for Anderson is a start in the series finale against the Padres. He’s scheduled to be opposed by Yu Darvish for the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball telecast.
Anderson is 12-1 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 20 games (18 starts) this season.
Anderson enjoyed All-Star Game experience
The Dodgers had six players named to the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, but Anderson was the lone member who did not appear. He nevertheless enjoyed the first career All-Star selection.
“It was a lot of fun,” he told DodgerBlue.com. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity. It was really nice talking to a lot of the guys and seeing the other side. There’s really great guys in the game. And going on the red carpet with my family was awesome too. They really loved that.”
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