Padres INF Luis Sardiñas pitched an inning in relief against the Diamondbacks

The Padres lost to the Diamondbacks 10-1 tonight. It was not a pretty game, and it’s mostly the fault of Jered Weaver. But we got a little treat in the top of the 9th inning as, for the second time this season, a full-time position player came into the game to pitch in relief. This time it was Luis Sardinas.

He made quick work of the Dbacks. Gregor Blanco and Rey Fuentes led things off with back-to-back groundouts. Daniel Descalso singled to right. But then Jake Lamb flied out to end the inning. Quick and easy - exactly the opposite of Weaver’s start (which didn’t even last a whole inning).

Sardiñas is not only the second position player to pitch for the Padres this season, but the second shortstop. Erick Aybar made a relief appearance - also against the Diamondbacks - that lasted one out.

This wasn’t Sardiñas’ first time pitching at the Major League level. He also threw an inning in relief for the Mariners last season. That time he retired the Cubs in order, using only eight pitches.

In a somewhat poetic ending to tonight’s game, Sardiñas flied out for the final out, cementing the 10-1 score (a Ryan Schimpf RBI single in the bottom of the 9th prevented a shutout). Still, if it were up to me, he’d be the Padres player of the game.