Jeff Disla accomplished something very few can claim in a league with a designated hitter. On Sunday, Disla homered and recorded the win on the mound for the Senators against the Volcanoes in a 12-11 12-inning saga.
His day started in centerfield, as it normally does. In the fourth inning, Disla’s two-run shot put the Senators up 5-3. But there was plenty of game left.
With the game knotted at 11 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Senators manager Dave Wong brough Disla into pitch.
It was Disla’s first appearance as a pitcher in the season, but he showed no signs of nerves. He put up four scoreless innings, retiring the first nine batters he faced in order.
In the 12th inning, the inning starts with a man on second. The Senators took advantage.
Edgar Vela hit a deep sac fly to right field that advanced Garrett Keuber, the lead run, 90 feet from home.
After T.J. Wheeler struck out, Joe Starrick came through with a clutch double that brought Keuber home with the eventual game-winning run.
In the bottom half of the inning, Disla responded to the pressure. He walked the lead off man to put runners on first and second, but then induced a double play ball from Jose Villa.
After an intentional walk to Carlos Cuevas, Disla didn’t have to do much.
Cuevas, who made his league debut in this series, had been hot, going 5-for-8 in the first two games. Sunday was a different story. Cuevas was 0-for-5, and then in an inexplicable move, was thrown out trying to steal second to end the game with the tying run on third.