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Marte's newest first: facing a switch pitcher

SEATTLE -- Ketel Marte has dealt with a lot of new things in his first month in the big leagues, but nothing could prepare him for something few hitters have ever faced in Major League history.

When Marte stepped to the plate in the seventh inning of Monday's 11-5 loss to the A's, home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez asked Oakland reliever Pat Venditte which hand he wanted to throw with to the switch-hitting rookie.

As MLB's first switch-pitcher since Montreal's Greg Harris threw one inning in 1995 and just the second since 1894, Venditte signaled he'd throw with his right hand, which sent Marte scurrying back to the dugout for a quick equipment change.