Colorado Rockies’ Chris Rusin watches his two-run home run hit off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez during the fourth inning of a baseball game on July 30, 2015, in St. Louis. (Billy Hurst, The Associated Press)
It’s not every day a pitcher comes in to pinch hit.
But that’s what happened Thursday when Rockies starter Chris Rusin came up to the plate for starter Eddie Butler against the New York Mets in Citi Field. Rusin flied out to left field.
It’s not the first time the Rockies have used Rusin in the role. A day after he went 2-for-2 and knocked in a two-run homer against the Cardinals on July 30, he was brought in to hit for reliever Aaron Laffey. He recorded a sacrifice hit.
On the season, Rusin’s numbers at the plate are good — for a pitcher. He’s batting .222 with a home run and four RBIs in 27 at-bats.
He’s still a ways away from catching up to the Rockies’ all-time best hitting pitcher, Mike Hampton. In two seasons with the Rockies, he batted .315 with 10 homers and a ridiculous .552 slugging percentage. He was also used as a pinch runner on several occasions.
Rockies’ best hitting pitchers
Minimum 25 at-bats
Mike Hampton4345.315Tyler Chatwood6617.258Darren Oliver6717.254Shawn Estes7217.236Brian Bonahan15535.226Chris Rusin276.222Jason Jennings30266.219Tyler Matzek4610.217Bill Swift6113.213Drew Pomeranz347.206Darryl Kyle12325.203
Tags: Chris Rusin
