Athletics' ambidextrous pitcher Venditte throws 2 scoreless innings in MLB debut

Oakland Athletics pitcher Pat Venditte did something on a major league mound Friday that hadn't been done in 20 years.

The 29-year-old became the first switch-pitcher since Greg Harris in 1995 to appear in a major league game after pitching the seventh and eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox.

Venditte threw left-handed to open the inning and induced a groundout from left-handed hitting Brock Holt. He then threw right-handed and gave up a single to the right-handed hitting Hanley Ramirez. Right-handed hitting Mike Napoli followed and grounded into an inning-ending double play.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

He returned for the eighth inning and retired the side in order, but not before a brief moment of confusion.

Switch-hitting catcher Blake Swihart walked to the right side of home plate with Venditte motioning to the umpire that he would throw right-handed. Swihart then proceeded to go back to the dugout to retrieve his left-handed hitting helmet before striking out.

Venditte wrapped up his outing having allowed one hit in two innings while picking up a strikeout.

Selected in the 20th round by the New York Yankees in 2008, Venditte spent eight years in the minors before finally making his big league debut.

"You play it 1,000 times in your head how it’s going to happen," Venditte told reporters following the game, "and I don't really remember a whole lot, just a lot of emotions and being able to tell my family and friends that the work was starting to pay off."

Venditte, who uses a special glove he can use with either hand, posted a 1.36 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 33 innings with Triple-A Nashville.