On this day in 1979 three Brewer pitchers couldn't get the job done. Jim Slaton, Reggie Cleveland and Paul Mitchell combined to allow 15 runs on 13 hits and four walks to the Royals while recording just nine outs. Instead of burning up his entire bullpen mopping up the rout, Brewer manager George Bamberger used position players to pitch the final five innings.
Sal Bando was the first position player to the mound and allowed two runs on three hits over three innings of work. Jim Gantner was next and pitched a scoreless seventh before Buck Martinez finished off the game by allowing a run on a hit and a walk in the eighth. For all three players it was the only pitching appearance of their major league career.
The Brewers eventually lost this game 18-8.
With help from Brewerfan.net and the B-Ref Play Index, happy birthday today to:
- Wisconsin Timber Rattler Brent Suter, who turns 23.
- 2000-01 Brewer Henry Blanco, who turns 41.
- Seattle Pilots manager Joe Schultz, who would have turned 94. We covered his birthday in this space last year.