| Name |
Mark Loretta |
| Height |
|
| Naionality |
American |
| Date of Birth |
14-August-1971 |
| Place of Birth |
Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Famous for |
Baseball Player |
Mark Loretta is a retired Major League Baseball infielder. Loretta played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1995-2002), Houston Astros (2002, 2007-2008), San Diego Padres (2003-2005), Boston Red Sox (2006) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2009). He batted and threw right-handed.
Loretta made his Major League debut on September 4, 1995 for the Brewers against the Minnesota Twins and recorded his first hit on September 10 against the Texas Rangers. He remained on the Brewers every day roster as a utility player through 2002. On June 20, 2001, during an 11–3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds, Loretta took the mound to pitch a scoreless eighth inning. Brewers manager Davey Lopes asked the team for a volunteer to pitch an inning in hopes of saving the depleted bullpen, and Loretta volunteered. He had not pitched since college. Loretta faced five batters, gave up one hit and one walk and got two strikeouts on 19 pitches. He was the first everyday player to pitch for the Brewers since 1991. Loretta was traded to the Houston Astros during the 2002 season for Keith Ginter and Wayne Franklin, and played in 21 games as a reserve before filing for free agency. On December 10, 2008, Loretta signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for reported $1.25 million. On October 8, 2009, Mark Loretta hit a walk-off single to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 3 to 2 in game two of the National League Division Series. The score was tied and the bases were loaded with two outs when he stroked a line drive off Cardinal reliever Ryan Franklin to center fielder Colby Rasmus.
Until this game-winning single Mark Loretta had been hitless in his career against Franklin. His single completed a come from behind victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers who trailed the Cardinals 2 to 1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. Loretta said, “That’s the biggest hit of my career.” This sudden victory enabled the Dodgers to take a two games to none lead in the division series. They would go on to win the series 3-0.
