Davis, who started the game as the designated hitter for the Orioles, ended up accomplishing something that no other player has done in more than a century.
After going 0-for-8 at the plate during Baltimore's 17-inning 9-6 win in Boston on Sunday, Davis ended up recording his first career win on the mound. It was the O's fifth straight victory.
Davis' obscene stat line is an anomaly, really. As a matter of fact, the last major league player to go 0-for-8 at bat and get the win in the same game was Rube Waddell way back on July 4, 1905. Coincidentally, that game was also played in Boston, at the old Huntington Avenue field. The losing pitcher that day? You guessed it: Cy Young.
Davis was unfazed by the history of the moment, though, instead reflecting on the game in a lighthearted manner and focusing on the fact that he was able to help his team win.
"[I had a] tough day at the plate, and I was thinking, 'Seriously, am I going to get another at-bat,'" Davis said. "But I just went out there trying to get myself outs, and trying to score some runs for our team."
Coming into the game, Davis never expected to play for six hours. But more than anything, he wasn't expecting to pitch.
When manager Buck Showalter presented the opportunity, Davis willingly jumped at the chance to actually contribute for his team.
"[When Buck asked me], I was like, sweet!" he said. "I get to try something different today, because hitting ain't working."
Davis may view the performance as "just another way to contribute," but even with the horrific day at the dish, the first baseman-turned-pitcher actually showed some solid stuff, throwing two scoreless innings on the mound.
"I was just out there trying to throw strikes and not blow the game," Davis said, still wiping the celebratory shaving cream off his face in the locker room. "In a game like that, when everybody's battling, trying to get a win, both teams are throwing everything they got at each other. You don't want to blow it."
Teammate J.J. Hardy, who went 5-for-8 with two home runs on the afternoon, appreciated the gutsy effort from Davis. He and his Orioles teammates showed their appreciation in walk-off style after the game.
"We dumped some beer on him. We gave him a shaving cream pie to the face. We had some fun with him," Hardy said.
Davis may have cleaned off the beer and wiped away the shaving cream, but he was able to keep a couple of balls from his first — and potentially only — win in the majors.
"I actually kept two [balls]," Davis said, smiling as he picked one of them up. "One for my first strikeout, and the other was the ball that got the win."
But there was one ball Davis wishes he kept more than either of those.
"Striking out Adrian Gonzalez, now that's a feat," he said. "Not many guys can say they've done that. I wish I had that one to put on my wall."
Davis may not want to remember his day at the plate. But locking up a major league win on the mound — that's a memory he won't soon want to forget.
