Boxberger strikes out side on nine pitches

ST. PETERSBURG -- When a reliever is tasked with coming into the game with the bases loaded and nobody out, most teams would consider themselves lucky if the pitcher could get out of the inning having allowed just one run.

In the sixth inning of Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Orioles, Brad Boxberger was thrown into that situation and accomplished the incredible. The 25-year-old right-hander struck out the side on nine pitches.

Rays starter David Price had turned the ball over to the 'pen after giving up singles to Adam Jones and Matt Wieters and a walk to J.J. Hardy.

Boxberger got the call and, nine pitches later, he was out of the inning.

"If ever I leave the game with runners on, Box is the guy I want to come in," Price said of the relief effort. "That was incredible. I don't know if that's ever been done in baseball, coming in with the bases loaded, nobody out, and throwing nine strikes and getting three punch-outs. That could be a part of history and I really appreciate it."

Though Elias Sports Bureau's pitch count records are incomplete, they have no record of any other Major League pitcher entering with the bases loaded and striking out the side on nine pitches.