We’ve seen position players pitch before, usually when their teams have fallen way behind late in games, but we’ve never seen it before at this point in the season. In the ninth inning of Tuesday’s Game 4 of the ALCS, with his Blue Jays on the wrong end of a 12-2 deficit to the Royals, Cliff Pennington took the mound and made history.

It was the first time a non-pitcher had thrown to a batter in an MLB playoff game. Pennington, 31-year-old utilityman, had never pitched before at the major league level.

So how did Pennington fare? Well, he did the job, needing to get just one out to end the top of the ninth. Pennington did give up two singles, allowing a run that was charged to reliever Mark Lowe, before retiring Ben Zobrist on a foul-out.

The former Diamondback, who was traded to the Blue Jays in August, now adds pitcher to the positions he has played this season, including second base, third base, shortstop and outfield. Pennington also showed off an arm capable of hitting over 90 on the radar gun.

The fans in Toronto — or what was left of them — may have enjoyed the sight of an infielder taking the mound, but the reality is that their team is now on the precipice of seeing its season end, having fallen behind the Royals 3-1 in the series. But if they do fall short of the World Series, at least the Blue Jays can say they made history in the ALCS.