in his first opportunity with the Reds. he was called up monday when they released Danny Graves, their closer, for flipping off the fans when they booed him. so tonight, one day later, he was brought in to start the 12th inning and pitched 2 scoreless. It was still tied in the 14th when it was his turn to bat and 2 runners on base. Randy was forced to bat since the Reds ran out of position players and in his first ever big league at bat, drives in his winning run and gets the win. (he used to be in the AL with the yanks where he never had to bat. then he had serious shoulder surgery and was likely to be done for his career) congrats to the ex-tiger superstar. I'm sure he's reading this.
ok well it was his 5th official at-bat. the initial report was wrong. May 25, 2005 CINCINNATI -- Randy Keisler earned a win Tuesday night with his arm and his bat. The reliever's first career hit and RBI gave the Cincinnati Reds a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals in 14 innings. Keisler, who was called up from the minor leagues on Monday, had to bat against Luis Ayala with runners at second and third and one out because the Reds had run out of position players in the longest game of the season for both teams. With the infield in, Keisler got a grounder past shortstop Jamey Carroll to drive in the game-winning run. "I had nothing to lose," said Keisler, who made his first major-league appearance since May 25, 2003. "I'm a pitcher, but I've (batted) before. They know I'm a pitcher, so I figured I'd see fastballs. I was so excited that I swung at the first pitch and it was two feet off the plate. I had to gather myself. They had the infield in, and I was able to get enough wood on it to creep it through the infield." Keisler, who was called up when closer Danny Graves was designated for assignment, was mobbed by teammates at first base. "You always want to have something like that happen," said Keisler, who was 0-for-4 in limited appearances with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. "That was fun. It was good to get a little energy going."
