St. Petersburg, Fla. — The look on Michael Fulmer’s face Wednesday afternoon when pitching coach Chris Fetter sauntered out to the mound was priceless.
Fulmer, protecting a three-run lead, pitched a clean, 14-pitch eighth and had just won a 10-pitch battle striking out Jace Peterson for the second out in the ninth.
“What the (bleep) are you doing?” Fulmer said, with his glove covering his face.
Fetter, calmly and hilariously, said, “Well, since you asked, I’m giving AJ (Hinch) time to get Funkhouser ready to get the last out.”
Fulmer turned around and sure enough, Kyle Funkhouser was starting to get loose.