SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Los Angeles manager Joe Torre has put his starting pitcher in the eighth spot in the Dodgers’ lineup, hoping it’ll create more stolen base chances for Juan Pierre and get more runners on base for Manny Ramirez.
Torre put left-hander Eric Stults in the eighth spot and Pierre at the bottom of his batting order for Wednesday’s season finale against the San Francisco Giants. Torre can’t remember making the unusual move in his previous 27 years of managing.
“It just seemed like a situation where a player like Juan would be freer to steal with (leadoff hitter Rafael) Furcal hitting behind him instead of the pitcher,” Torre said.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has used the strategy regularly since 2007 to create more RBI chances for Albert Pujols.
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