Brewers minor-league infielder gets walk-off hit ... and pitching win
Pressed into pitching duty, Brewers minor-league infielder Ethan Murray worked a scoreless 11th May 15, then walked it off with his bat.
Major-league baseball pitchers haven't been able to help their own cause on offense since the designated hitter became universal. But in the minor leagues, just about anything can happen. Anything.
Class AAA Nashville infielder Ethan Murray was pressed into pitching duty on May 15 against the Iowa Cubs, but it happened to be in a tie game in extra innings. And like you might imagine, it didn't start all that great with the position player on the hill. What you couldn't have imagined was Murray escaping a jam and then delivering the game-winning hit in the bottom of the 11th.
The Sounds had already used six pitchers in their battle with the Iowa Cubs, including a short start by starting pitcher Tate Kuehner. Presumably not interested in taxing any more arms, Nashville sent Murray to the mound for the 11th in a 3-3 game. After walking former Brewers infielder and Wisconsin native Owen Miller to start the frame, Murray was facing two runners on with nobody out.
But a lineout, groundout and diving catch in center field by star prospect Luis Lara got the Sounds out of the inning and set the stage for a wild finish. Cubs reliever Ryan Jensen (yes, he's actually a pitcher) struck out Jeferson Quero to start the 11th and then intentionally walked Eddys Leonard to reach Murray, 26, who singled in the winning run. Ethan Murray walks it off to secure his first win on the bump!