Nerdy Baseball Question

Cubs' reliever Sean Marshall recorded the first out of the 9th inning Sunday against the Cards, and was replaced by Aaron Heilman...

Except -- instead of walking to the dugout -- Marshall stayed in the game and replaced Alphonso Soriano in left field. After Heilman put away the only batter he faced, Marshall came back in from left field to finish the inning.

I know you think I'm going to come at you with a nerdy, Jayson Stark-like statistic, about how this hasn't happened in the 9th inning at Wrigley Field since Wally "Big Feet" McGee did the same thing for the Tupelo Bumble Bees in 1907. But I'm not.

My question is simple: Can the same pitcher earn a win and save in the same game?

With Sean Marshall, it didn't matter. This scenario can only happen with a starter (plus, the Cubs were losing yesterday, anyway).

Imagine...Starting Pitcher X pitches 8.1 scoreless innings for a team that is winning 1-0 on the strength of a 1st inning home run. He's relieved by Relief Pitcher X, but instead of exiting the game, the starter heads to left field. After one out is recorded, the starter comes back to the mound and finishes the game out.

Anyone?

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
7/13/09