Ladendorf makes mound debut in a pinch

HOUSTON — On the same night starter Jesse Hahn endured a nightmarish outing, the A’s had one of their long relievers stuck in San Antonio because of a flight delay. That’s just how things went for this team Friday, which ended with a 12-2 loss to the Astros.

Right-hander J.B. Wendelken, recalled from Triple-A Nashville, did arrive at Minute Maid Park on Friday night, but only after the game was put to rest. And by then, infielder/outfielder Tyler Ladendorf had been summoned for his first career pitching performance.

“I went over in the seventh inning and asked him if he had pitched,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “He said he’d never done it in pro ball but was willing to do it.”

Ladendorf retreated to the bullpen for several warmup pitches before taking the mound in the eighth, flashing a fastball — and only a fastball — that topped out at 85 mph and produced more outs than Hahn recorded, working around one hit and one walk.

Several of Ladendorf’s 16 pitches registered as a changeup, “but no, just fastballs,” he said, smiling.

“Fastball, fastball and fastball,” said Ladendorf, who last pitched …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com