ANAHEIM, Calif. — Baseball “purists” don’t like the designated hitter, but Arizona Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale welcomed the opportunity to get another hitter in his lineup for the two interleague games against the Los Angeles Angels in their American League ballpark.
Hale has had to find a way to get at-bats for four outfielders — Ender Inciarte, A.J. Pollock, David Peralta and Yasmany Tomas — all of whom have hit relatively well, and Hale has made it work: The Diamondbacks lead the National League with 290 runs scored. Getting use of the DH spot, though, just made things a little easier.
“It’s nice for us,” Hale said before the game. “We’re always trying to get another hitter in there. We’re always having to juggle our outfielders between the four guys. This enables me to get everybody in there.”
Hale, though, suddenly found himself short an outfielder. Inciarte started as the left fielder but he strained his right hamstring running out a ground ball leading off the game and had to come out. Hale had Tomas as his DH, but moving Tomas to left field would have meant Arizona would lose the DH spot and the pitcher would have to hit.
Instead, Hale put Cliff Pennington in left field, even though Pennington had never played in the outfield. Pennington not only made all the routine plays, he also threw out Angels shortstop Erick Aybar trying to stretch a single into a double.
“He made one of the best plays of the year by cutting that ball off and throwing Aybar out at second,” Hale said. “He just looked like a natural, he’s a good athlete. He can play anywhere.”
After the game, Inciarte was placed on the 15-day disabled list. The Diamondbacks are expected to call up an outfielder/first baseman Tuesday.