Eric Sogard, who played one year for the Cubs as a spare-part infielder, was the last of three position players who pitched in a 10-0 loss to the Braves in Atlanta, April 28, 2021.
We’ve looked at the others
the last two days — Anthony Rizzo and Matt Duffy.
Sogard entered to throw the bottom of the eighth. He had entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Alec Mills, stayed in the game to play second base for an inning, then switched to the mound. At that point, Duffy, who had previously played third first before pitching, moved back to third, and David Bote played second.
Got all that?
Anyway, Sogard retired the first two hitters he faced. The second of those was Dansby Swanson [VIDEO].
Then Sogard allowed two singles and hit a batter, loading the bases.
Johan Camargo was the next hitter, and… he nearly hit a grand slam [VIDEO].
If you didn’t recognize him, that’s Kris Bryant in left field.
This game was the Cubs’ fifth straight loss and put them in last place in the NL Central at 10-14, four games out. They then went on a 32-19 run that had them in a first-place tie at 42-33 after their combined no-hitter against the Dodgers June 24. But then, as you know, disaster followed, an 8-21 run that triggered Jed Hoyer’s big 2021 deadline selloff.
Sogard would pitch four more times in this awful Cubs season. The five pitching appearances is the most not only in any one season for a Cubs position player, but the most such appearances in a career.
The other four:
June 19 vs. the Marlins at Wrigley Field: Sogard throws a 1-2-3 ninth in an 11-1 loss.
June 28 vs. the Brewers at Milwaukee: The game was tied 4-4 going to the bottom of the eighth. Ryan Tepera gave up four runs and current Brewers closer Trevor Megill got torched for six, including two home runs. Sogard finished off the inning by allowing a single to Jackie Bradley Jr. before getting Tyrone Taylor on a fly to right. The Cubs lost 14-4.
June 30 vs. the Brewers at Milwaukee: This was even a worse disaster than the June 28 game. The Cubs scored seven runs in the top of the first — and nothing else while the Brewers pounded Jake Arrieta, Rex Brothers, Tommy Nance and Adam Morgan for 15. (Keegan Thompson and Brad Wieck managed to appear in that span without giving up a run.) Sogard threw the bottom of the eighth, allowing a single but getting Christian Yelich on a comebacker to end the carnage [VIDEO]. The Cubs lost 15-7.
July 5 vs. the Phillies at Wrigley Field: The Cubs trailed 10-3 entering the ninth when Sogard came into the game. Again, you couldn’t do this now, as a team has to down eight (or up by 10) to put a position player in to pitch. He allowed a single to Bryce Harper, then retired the next two Phillies — 0nly to see Rhys Hoskins and Alec Bohm hit home runs. The Cubs lost 13-3.
The Hoskins home run went a long, long way (441 feet) [VIDEO].
So if you’re keeping track, that’s three position player appearances on the mound for Sogard… within a period of seven games. The wheels really were falling off, and quickly.
