(670 The Score) With the White Sox losing to the Red Sox in blowout fashion Monday, manager Tony La Russa decided he didn't want to tax his bullpen any further.
And thus the mystique of rookie designated hitter Yermin Mercedes grew, as he took the mound for the first time in his MLB career. With the White Sox trailing 10-4, Mercedes pitched the bottom of the seventh, allowing one run on three hits while walking two batters. It also marked his first MLB appearance in the field, as he had previously only served as Chicago's designated hitter.
"Tony was the first guy that told me that I would go in the seventh or the eighth," Mercedes said. "He asked if I was ready for it. He reminded me to just throw easy and not get too carried away."
With his hat turned at an angle, the 28-year-old Mercedes hit 88 miles per hour with his fastball, though he more often relied on a sidearm changeup. The White Sox eventually lost 11-4.
"I felt good out there," Mercedes said. "I tilted my cap because that is the Dominican Republic style. All pitchers there tilt their cap that way."
Mercedes, who's hitting .404 this season, opened the game as the White Sox's designated hitter and went 1-for-4. He insisted he has more in his pitching arsenal if called upon again.
"It was fun to be out there," he said. "I think I can hit 94 miles per hour if it goes. I pitched in Panama a few times before, but today it was nice and easy. I tried not to do too much."
The pitching services of Mercedes and then infielder Danny Mendick in the eighth inning were needed after ace Lucas Giolito was shelled, allowing eight runs in one-plus innings of work. Mendick threw a scoreless eighth inning, working around a hit batsman and a hit with a strikeout, a flyout and a groundout.
"I lost us a game in the first inning," Giolito said. "That part of those guys coming in, I hate to see because I blew it early so that we need two position players having to go out and pitch."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
