Outfielder Donald Lutz of the Cincinnati Reds wrote history again. The 24-year-old, who was called up to the big leagues at the beginning of the week to become the first German player in Major League Baseball, registered a game of firsts on Sunday.
Getting into the contest against the Chicago Cubs as part of a double switch in the bottom of the sixth, Lutz accomplished the first German hit in the top of the seventh. He grounded a full count offering from Cubs reliever Shawn Camp past the second baseman into center field for a single. He later came around to score on Joey Votto’s double to score the first run of his MLB career. In the eighth Lutz also drove in his first run with a RBI fielder’s choice and got his first stolen base.
Prior to his hit in the seventh Lutz got into a short argument with home plate umpire Greg Gibson, who didn’t saw that the young German was hit by a pitch. In the end he helped making history. The Cincinnati Reds eventually won 7-4, completing a sweep. Lutz now has appeared in four MLB games, starting one. The Reds return back home to Ohio to open a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.