With two outs in the seventh inning of Monday night's game between the Astros and Mets, Houston manager Brad Mills pulled starter Bud Norris from the game after 108 pitches. Needing four measly outs to bridge the gap to closer Brett Myers and the ninth inning, Mills unleashed the following parade of relief pitchers:
-Wilton Lopez enters the game, only faces Ruben Tejada (1 pitch)
-Wesley Wright enters the game, only faces Daniel Murphy (1 pitch)
-Brandon Lyon enters the game, only faces David Wright (7 pitches)
-Fernando Abad enters the game, only faces Ike Davis (2 pitches)
-Fernando Rodriguez enters the game, only faces Travis Buck (2 pitches)
For you counters out there, that's five different relief pitchers to face five different hitters. They combined to get four outs, after Bud Norris got the first 20 all by himself like a big boy. When Brett Myers entered the game in the ninth inning, the streak was extended to six different pitchers for six hitters, but then (plot twist!) Myers was allowed to face the next two batters and close out the 4-3 win.
Had the game gone to extra innings, Mills might have regretted burning five of his relievers on a combined total (combined! total!) of 13 pitches. But hey, the Astros won, which doesn't happen very often anymore. Can't argue with results. Except when you can.
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