SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -Left-handed starter Noah Lowry was forced to play right field for the San Francisco Giants on Friday night when a 10th-inning collision at home plate forced backup catcher Eliezer Alfonzo out of the game with an injury.
Pedro Feliz, the Giants’ starting third baseman, made his major league debut behind the plate in the emergency situation.
Lowry 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 an apparent knee injury.
Murphy, called up earlier in the day, was slow getting up as well.
The Giants had no remaining position players. Starting catcher Bengie Molina had been replaced earlier in the game. Center fielder Randy Winn moved to third to replace Feliz, while Dan Ortmeier went from right to center.
It was the first career appearance for Lowry at any position other than pitcher. He has been used as a pinch runner. The last pitcher to play in the field was Jason Simontacchi of St. Louis when he played in left field in the ninth inning against Arizona on April 10, 2004, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Molina left the game in the fifth in what the club called a “baseball decision,” though manager Bruce Bochy and athletic trainer Dave Groeschner checked on Molina after Mark Ellis singled following Travis Buck’s leadoff double in the inning. Molina was taken out two batters later and replaced by Alfonzo. Right fielder Fred Lewis left the game after the first inning with a strained muscle in his right side.
Lowry took some warmup catches in right and the game was only delayed six minutes. The Giants were also down to one pitcher in the bullpen, Vinnie Chulk, after using eight.
Winn made his debut at third.
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