Tuesday night in Miami, Adam Greenberg began and finished his unlikely comeback with one at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Greenberg struck out on three pitches (here's the video, via MLB.com). It was a tough assignment, as the man on the mound was R.A. Dickey, the National League's likely Cy Young Award winner. Before the game, Ozzie Guillen had suggested that Greenberg would merely pinch-hit, and Greenberg was replaced in the lineup by Scott Cousins in the seventh.
Adam Greenberg’s comeback lasts 3 pitches
Marc Serota - Getty Images
Last week, the Marlins announced that Greenberg would sign a one-game contract, on the heels of an online petition drive started by a Chicago Cubs fan. In 2005, Greenberg reached the majors with the Cubs, but was felled by a beaning on the first pitch he saw, and -- suffering ill effects -- never came close to reaching the majors again. From 2009 through '11, Greenberg played for the Bridgeport Bluefish in the independent Atlantic League. He hadn't played professionally this season, but did toil for Israel in the qualifying round of the World Baseball Classic.
Dickey, of course, is another unlikely major leaguer. Attempting to record his 21st victory and perhaps lock down the Cy Young Award, Dickey pitched well early on, but gave up solo homers to Gorkys Hernandez in the fourth inning and Rob Brantly in the fifth. And in the sixth, after striking out Greenberg, Dickey gave up three straight two-out hits and a third run, making the score 3-0. His ERA before the game was 2.69, second lowest in the league; after his six innings it was 2.73, still second lowest.
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