Noah Lowry in right field and Pedro Feliz at catcher wasn’t in San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy’s game plan.
However, after backup catcher Eliezer Alfonzo was injured in a 10th inning collision at home plate Friday night against Oakland, Bochy was out of position players. He had no choice but to try a starting pitcher in right field and his third baseman at catcher.
Oakland’s Shannon Stewart hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the 10th against a makeshift San Francisco defense, lifting the Athletics past the Giants 5-3.
Lowry, who struck out to end the game, went to right field after Alfonzo saved a run tagging pinch-runner Donnie Murphy out at the plate in the top of the 10th. Alfonzo, who took a throw from first baseman Ryan Klesko on a ground ball by Mark Kotsay, had to be helped to the locker room with a sprained left knee.
It was the first career appearance for Lowry at any fielding position other than pitcher. The last pitcher to play in the field was Jason Simontacchi of St. Louis when he was in left field in the ninth inning against Arizona on April 10, 2004, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Feliz moved from third to catcher to make his major league debut behind the plate.
“This game had a little bit of everything,” A’s manager Bob Geren said. “It was cold and Stewart comes off the bench to get a big hit. Their catcher, unfortunately gets hurt and they had to use a position player. I thought Feliz did a great job. It almost looks like he’s done it before.”
Stewart singled to left off loser Brad Hennessey (1-2).
Kiko Calero (1-4) got two outs in the ninth with the bases loaded for the win, while Alan Embree finished with a perfect 10th for his sixth save in seven chances.
Randy Winn made his debut at third base.
In other interleague games, it was: Baltimore 4, Colorado 2; the New York Mets 3, Detroit 0; the New York Yankees 5, Pittsburgh 4 in 10 innings; Cincinnati 4, Cleveland 3; the Los Angeles Angels 10, St. Louis 6; Kansas City 8, Philadelphia 4; Houston 5, the Chicago White Sox 2; Washington 8, Minnesota 5; Florida 14, Tampa Bay 8; Texas 9, Milwaukee 6; Boston 10, Arizona 3; Seattle 6, San Diego 5 in 11 innings; and the Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Toronto 3 in 10 innings.
In the only NL game, the Chicago Cubs beat Atlanta 9-1.
Barry Bonds went 1-for-3 with two walks, playing the second straight night after sitting out Tuesday and Wednesday against the Diamondbacks with shin splints. He beat out an infield single Thursday, showing his legs are healthy again.
Bonds got his 512th career stolen base and moved within two of matching his late father, Bobby, for most in San Francisco history (263).
The Giants went to extra innings for the third time in the last four games.
“It’s time to change something. We had this and let it get away,” Bochy said. “The guys played hard, we just needed a big hit with guys on base. Obviously we are going to have to make some moves.”
Cubs 9, Braves 1
Alfonso Soriano hit three home runs in the first four innings and visiting Chicago won for the fifth time in six games.
Sean Marshall (2-2) gave up four hits and one run in six innings in his second win over the Braves in six days. Cormier (0-2) gave up five runs in 3 2-3 innings.
Mets 3, Tigers 0
David Wright and Carlos Delgado both hit their 10th home runs and Jorge Sosa won for the sixth time as visiting New York snapped a four-game losing streak.
Sosa (6-1) scattered four hits over eight innings in his longest outing of the year. Chad Durbin (5-2) gave up three runs and six hits in eight-plus innings.
Yankees 5, Pirates 4, 10 innings
Derek Jeter hit a game-winning infield single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning and host New York won its season-high fourth straight game.
Robinson Cano doubled to left-center leading off the 10th against Matt Capps (3-3) and scored on Jeter’s hit, making a winner of Mariano Rivera (2-3), who pitched two innings.
Orioles 4, Rockies 2
Nick Markakis hit a two-run homer and host Baltimore handed Jeff Francis (5-5) his first loss since May 2.
Steve Trachsel (5-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings for the Orioles, who have won two straight following a five-game skid.
Reds 4, Indians 3
Homer Bailey benefited from host Cincinnati’s three home runs, including the 577th of Ken Griffey Jr.’s career, to win his major league debut.
Brandon Phillips and Jeff Conine also homered off Cliff Lee (2-4), who gave up four hits and four runs in six innings.
Nationals 8, Twins 5
Dmitri Young had three hits and three RBIs for visiting Washington.
Jason Simontacchi (3-4), an ex-Twins farmhand, allowed four runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings. Carlos Silva (3-7) gave up seven runs in three innings, his shortest start of the season.
Astros 5, White Sox 2
Chris Sampson (6-5) allowed six hits in 6 2-3 innings and visiting Houston won despite the early ejections of right fielder Lance Berkman and manager Phil Garner.
Both struggling teams are far removed from the ones that met in the 2005 World Series 20 months ago. Houston’s win was just its fifth in 21 games. The White Sox have lost 11 of 13.
Rangers 9, Brewers 6
Sammy Sosa was 3-for-5 with an RBI double and Mark Teixeira drove in three runs for host Texas.
Prince Fielder hit his NL-leading 22nd home run in the second for the Brewers. Fielder has seven homers over the last 11 games.
Milwaukee starter Chris Capuano (5-5) lost his fifth straight start.
Angels 10, Cardinals 6
Casey Kotchman drove in three runs, including two in a six-run seventh inning, for visiting Los Angeles.
Cardinals reliever Tyler Johnson (1-1) took the loss. Hector Carrasco (1-1) used four pitches to get through the sixth inning to earn his first victory.
Royals 8, Phillies 4
Mark Grudzielanek and Mike Sweeney homered in a six-run second inning to lead Kansas City in Philadelphia’s first visit to Kauffman Stadium since the 1980 World Series.
Scott Elarton (2-2) gave up three home runs, including Ryan Howard’s mammoth two-run shot, but went five innings for the victory. Freddy Garcia (1-5) gave up six runs and seven hits in 1 2-3 innings for the Phillies.
Marlins 14, Devil Rays 8
Hanley Ramirez had four hits and Jeremy Hermida hit a grand slam to start host Florida’s rally from a six-run deficit.
The Marlins trailed 8-2 after four innings, then scored 12 runs and reached .500 (31-31) for the first time since May 4.
Ty Wigginton and Delmon Young had three hits for the Devil Rays.
Red Sox 10, Diamondbacks 3
J.D. Drew hit two three-run homers and drove in a career-high seven runs, and Josh Beckett improved to 9-0 with a five-hitter in Boston’s first regular season visit to Chase Field.
Julio Lugo led off the game with a homer off Doug Davis (4-7).
Mariners 6, Padres 5, 11 innings
Raul Ibanez homered leading off the 11th inning, his fourth hit, to give visiting Seattle the victory despite blowing a 5-0 lead.
Ibanez homered to left-center on a 2-1 pitch from Cla Meredith (2-4). It was his second of the year. Eric O’Flaherty (2-0) got the final out of the 10th for the win.
Dodgers 4, Blue Jays 3, 10 innings
Pinch-hitter Olmedo Saenz hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th for the host Dodgers. Jeremy Accardo (1-2) came on in the 10th and walked Tony Abreu before Saenz homered.
Rudy Seanez (3-1) pitched 1-3 of an inning for the victory, the Dodgers’ 12th in their last 15 home games.
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