Gerardo Reyes had a grand total of zero plate appearances as a professional – really, none since his high school days in Hidalgo, Texas – when Andy Green sent him to the batters’ box in the bottom of the seventh inning with a runner on second base and the Padres clinging to a one-run lead. The Padres’ fourth-year skipper didn’t hesitate because he badly needed more of what Reyes offered a half-inning earlier: Outs.
The 25-year-old Mexican obliged in a big way.
With one out and runners on second and third in a tie game, Reyes struck out Tomas Nido and pinch-hitter Todd Frazier with six swing-and-misses, including three on 99 mph fastballs.