WATCH: Former Mets Slugger Ike Davis Pitches Perfect Inning For A's

ANAHEIM, Calif. (CBSNewYork/AP) — The Oakland Athletics' most effective pitcher against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night was first baseman Ike Davis.

There was no point in manager Bob Melvin wasting any of his regular relievers in the eighth inning of a sloppy 14-1 loss in which Drew Pomeranz and Fernando Abad surrendered three-run homers to Johnny Giavotella and Kole Calhoun.

So Davis, the son of former Yankees pitcher Ron Davis, volunteered his services.

The former Met, who had a 2.25 ERA at Arizona State, retired fellow ex-Met Collin Cowgill, C.J. Cron and Chris Iannetta on groundballs while throwing just nine pitches. It was the first time the A's had a position player pitch since Frank Menechino on July 18, 2000, against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

"It was interesting for sure," Davis said. "I'm just glad I threw strikes and didn't have to throw too many pitches. I miss that part of the game, and I've always wanted to get back up there and see what I could do and if I could get outs. I was a little nervous. I didn't want to walk the house and look like a clown out there."

It was anything but comedy relief for the Angels.

"You never like facing a guy like that because it's a lose-lose situation," Cron said. "I got a good pitch to hit, but I hit it right into the ground. He got three outs, so he did his job. He pitched in college, so he knows what he's doing."

Davis is hitting .317 (13-for-41) with a homer and seven RBIs.

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