Gallardo gets to take his hacks again in series finale

SAN DIEGO - None of the American League teams relish losing the designated hitter in interleague games in National League parks. It's a disadvantage that manager Buck Showalter probably will mention later today while meeting with reporters in the visiting dugout at Petco Park.

However, if a pitcher has to bat, it may as well be Yovani Gallardo, owner of 12 career home runs and one Silver Slugger Award. The 12 home runs are one fewer than the Giants' Madison Bumgarner for most among active pitchers.

Gallardo hit four of those home runs in 2010 with the Brewers. He batted .254 with four doubles and 10 RBIs.

Starting Wednesday afternoon's series finale gives Gallardo another chance to swing the lumber.

"It will be fun," he said. "I think having the opportunity to do it for seven years when I was with Milwaukee, I kind of got used to it after a while. And I enjoyed it. It's part of the National League and it's something you have to learn how to do and control it. It's one of those things. But for me, I enjoy swinging the bat, so anytime I get the opportunity to do it, I'm looking forward to it."

It's a source of pride for Gallardo, who's set to make his third start since coming off the disabled list.

"I think playing in the National League for those seven years, you have to," he said. "You can change the outcome of a game, whether it be getting a hit and run ... you're part of the offense, which I think is very important. You can help yourself out in any situation. And these interleague games it's a little bit different because you don't swing the bat as often as you do in the National League, but it's all the same thing.

"At the end of the day you really want to do everything you can to help yourself out and give your team a win."

Which is exactly what Gallardo did against the Orioles on May 27, 2014 at Miller Park, when he delivered a pinch-hit walk-off double in the 10th inning against left-hander T.J. McFarland after Showalter ordered an intentional walk to Mark Reynolds. The Brewers were out of position players. Gallardo was starting the following day.

"Buck actually mentioned it in spring training," Gallardo said. "I think that topic came up in spring training, T.J. as well. It was one of those things where we've talked about it. He said obviously he was kind of surprised with the way I was able to swing the bat. It's just that we did it so much in the National League, so eventually you're going to get comfortable because you work on it quite a bit. Now, we just laugh about it. T.J. probably still doesn't, but we joke out around every now and then about it. But now we're on the same side so we don't have to worry about that. We can just talk about it.

"It was a fun experience for me. That's for sure. Probably not for T.J. because they ended up losing the game, but that's how this game is and that's how the National League is. That's how it works. You just have to be able to handle the bat somewhat."

Pitchers have been taking batting practice in preparation for the interleague games. The Orioles finish up their road trip with a three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

"It's fun," Gallardo said. "You can see all the guys out there swinging the bats, everybody's out there laughing and laughing at each other. Take a bad swing and you'll hear it from one of the guys. The way I looked at it, you just relax and have fun and just go out there and enjoy it. But as the games get closer to your start day, you have to take it serious. It can change the outcome of a game.

"Not only that, but it's National League. A lot of teams pinch-hit quite a bit and if you're able to handle the bat a little bit, you can get that extra couple innings in a close game."

Gallardo won't go so far as to say it comes back easily to him.

"Honestly, no," he said. "I swung a bat about a week ago for the first time in a year. The last time I did it was here actually. With the Rangers, we played here in San Diego."

Gallardo went 1-for-2 with a double in that game.

"It's definitely different," he said. "It's like anything. You have to work on it and work your way into it. It's not like you can't take any hacks and pick up a bat and hit a 97-mph fastball, especially for a pitcher. It's not easy. But I'm going to try to do the most I can.

"I think it helps that I was in the National League for seven years. I've done it before quite a bit, so it's just a matter of whatever I have to do, I'm going to try to go out there to do."

The series finale also gives Gallardo a chance to face a lineup without a designated hitter.

"It's a little bit different," he said. "The National League, you have more sac bunts, guys squaring around bunting. And try to get small parts of the game, the sac bunt and that and runs. You've seen it. National League teams that's what they do quite a bit. I've seen it a lot throughout the years.

"American League, it's a little bit different in that aspect. You're going to face nine hitters instead of eight and the pitcher. You're in the National League, you run into some pitchers who are swinging just as good as position players, so it's not like you can throw three fastballs down the middle.

"Like I said, I haven't taken anything different. I'm going to go out and pitch my game the way I've always pitched in my career. And once I have to make the adjustments, I'll do it."