36 years after Roger Clemens took the mound for the first time in Detroit, wearing No. 21, Kody Clemens followed suit on Wednesday. Of course, The Rocket's outing was planned.
Clemens, an infielder/outfielder for the Tigers, was forced into action in the eighth inning of a 13-0 loss to the White Sox to save the rest of Detroit's bullpen on a brutally hot afternoon at Comerica Park. He was one of three Tigers position players to pitch along with utility man Harold Castro and catcher Tucker Barnhart.
And the son of one of the greatest pitchers ever did alright, limiting Chicago to three hits and one run without topping 50 mph on the radar gun. He also got some help from Austin Meadows who made a leaping catch at the left field wall to take away a three-run homer from Seby Zavala.
Clemens then led off the next inning with a line-out to first. He's 2-26 through 12 games in the big leagues, meaning he has allowed more hits on the mound than he's collected at the plate. Not what he envisioned when he was called to Detroit last month.
Not what anyone envisioned Wednesday at Comerica Park.
"I've never considered (pitching) two position players in a game, let alone three," said Hinch.
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