CLEVELAND -- David Murphy dug into the batter's box in the eighth inning of the Indians' 4-2 victory against the Astros on Wednesday with the go-ahead run on second base. His platoon partner, the right-handed-hitting Ryan Raburn, was seated on the bench in the dugout.
Murphy looked out to the pitcher's mound and observed a foreign sight. The pitcher he was facing had the baseball gripped in his left hand.
Murphy had just 12 plate appearances vs. lefties entering Wednesday. The 33-year-old veteran outfielder hasn't missed a beat.
Murphy offered at the first pitch he saw from the sidearming Joe Thatcher and roped a line drive over the head of right fielder Preston Tucker, plating two runners and breaking a 2-2 tie that had held since the fourth inning.