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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 17, 2009

MLB: Lineup card error forces Rays' pitcher to hit


Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — An error on the Tampa Bay Rays' official lineup card forced starting pitcher Andy Sonnanstine to bat in today's game against Cleveland.

The Rays listed Ben Zobrist and Evan Longoria as the third baseman on the card given to the umpires before the start of the game. Longoria was supposed to be the designated hitter.

After going hitless in his first two at-bats, Sonnanstine had an RBI double to left during a five-run fourth that put Tampa Bay ahead 7-3.

After the top of the first, in which Zobrist played third, the game was delayed 13 minutes as the umpires discussed the matter among themselves and individually with Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon and Cleveland manager Eric Wedge.

The umpires pulled the Indians off the field midway through the delay.

The Rays lost their DH position due to the error, meaning Sonnanstine replaced Longoria in the third spot of the lineup.

Longoria, available to come off the bench, entered the game at third with two outs in the sixth when reliever Grant Balfour replaced Sonnanstine. Longoria also took over the third posiiton in the lineup, while Balfour replaced right fielder Gabe Kapler in the seventh spot.

Zobrist moved from third to right when Longoria came in.