How to Use pinch-hit in a Sentence

pinch-hit

1 of 2 verb
  • Nathaniel Lowe pinch-hit for Narváez, and popped out.
    — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
  • He was pinch-hit for in the seventh inning.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2026
  • With the game already out of hand, Ohtani was pinch-hit for in the fifth.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 27 May 2026
  • And Ryan Wynn, who came in and got that pinch-hit’s got a couple.
    — Sarah Spencer, AJC.com, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Lux was not in the lineup for Game 2 but was available to pinch-hit.
    — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024
  • This was his first pinch-hit at-bat since May 28, 2024.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Travis Chestnut pinch-hit for Kiel II and drew a walk.
    — Tony Catalina, Austin American Statesman, 14 Feb. 2026
  • With two runners on, the Dodgers brought Will Smith off the bench to pinch-hit.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 2 June 2025
  • Ohtani was hit by a line drive and was pinch-hit for later in the game, but reportedly will not miss time.
    — Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Eighteen players have at least 100 pinch-hits in their career.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Eighteen players have at least 100 pinch-hits in their career.
    — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Eighteen players have at least 100 pinch-hits in their career.
    — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2024
  • Melvin had Wilmer Flores pinch-hit for Smith in the bottom of the fourth.
    — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The second/third baseman was not available Tuesday night to pinch-hit.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
  • That is, until he was sent to pinch-hit for DH Gavin Lux in the eighth.
    — C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Dalton Rushing came off the bench to pinch-hit and bounced a ground ball to Arraez at first.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 23 Aug. 2025
  • In that inning, Sheets was called on to pinch-hit for Ty France and grounded out.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The two players who pinch-hit in those spots got hits, including the homer by O’Hearn.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Iglesias drew a walk and singled before Cronenworth pinch-hit to face a righty in the sixth.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Sanchez was then removed from the game as Schumaker pinch-hit for him in the bottom of the inning.
    — Andre Fernandez, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024
  • The outfielder was not in the lineup for Tuesday night’s game but was available to pinch-hit.
    — Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
  • Rodolfo Durán pinch-hit for Hunt in the ninth inning and caught the final two innings.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026
  • Padres manager Mike Shildt last night chose to pinch-hit for his catcher in the fifth inning.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 July 2025
  • Mack pinch-hit for Brian Navarreto to start the seventh and hit the ball off the wall in center.
    — Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • Roberts puts him in a platoon role and pinch-hits for him but not for Andy Pages or Gavin Lux.
    — Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2024
  • Axl Rose even stepped in as a pinch-hitting lead vocalist in 2016.
    — Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Valdez pinch-hit and delivered an RBI single.
    — CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • Valdez pinch-hit and delivered an RBI single.
    — ABC News, 24 June 2026
  • Rookie Jesús Rodríguez pinch-hit for Adames in the top of the sixth, then stayed in the game and played left field.
    — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
  • Sheets was 0-for-2 with a walk before Jose Iglesias pinch-hit for him in the eighth inning.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Aug. 2025

pinch hit

2 of 2 noun
  • Gaedel, who was pinch hitting, walked on four straight balls.
    — Kimberly Fornek, chicagotribune.com, 14 Sep. 2019
  • Both of Williams’ homers this season have come as pinch hits.
    — Matt Breen, Philly.com, 13 May 2018
  • This year’s Tigers still have the third-most pinch hit at-bats of any team.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • Wisdom pinch hit in the eighth, flied out and remained in the game at first.
    — Matt Carlson, Star Tribune, 25 Sep. 2020
  • Of course, things come up and team members need to pinch hit for each other.
    — Ann Kowal Smith, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024
  • Black said after the game Cron was not available to pinch hit.
    — David Solomon, Star Tribune, 8 May 2021
  • Gwynn pinch hit in the ninth inning and grounded to short in his final at-bat.
    — Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 27 Dec. 2024
  • Vosler pinch hit for Gausman in the eighth and fouled out in his first big-league at-bat.
    — Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Apr. 2021
  • On Sunday, he was called on to pinch hit in the eighth and drew a walk to load the bases.
    — Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 28 July 2019
  • Bochy said Heim would have been available to pinch hit if the team needed him to.
    — Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 13 May 2023
  • Seager was out of the starting lineup the next day, but still pinch hit late in the game.
    — Ryan Divish, The Seattle Times, 1 Oct. 2018
  • Brandon Lowe pinch hit and drove in Cruz with a single to right.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2021
  • His seven pinch hits this season are the second most in the majors.
    — Matt Breen, Philly.com, 14 May 2018
  • Trevor Larnach pinch hit for Lewis in the eighth inning.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 18 May 2026
  • Henry Popma came in to pinch hit, doubling to score three more.
    — oregonlive, 7 June 2022
  • The rookie stood at home plate and watched his first pinch hit homer soar, then tossed his bat high toward the home dugout.
    — Jake Seiner, courant.com, 1 Sep. 2019
  • With two on and two outs, the Yankees brought Aaron Judge in to pinch hit.
    — Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 3 July 2022
  • Or Gavin Sheets’ tying, full-count, pinch hit home run to dead center.
    — Dennis Lin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Liam Hicks pinch hit for Matt Mervis in the ninth and flied out to deep center.
    — Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
  • Caratini had come in to pinch hit for Matt Wallner.
    — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Gustavo Nunez got hurt on a swing in the seventh and was pinch hit for by Perez.
    — Ronald Blum, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Aug. 2021
  • Bichette played second in Game 1 but only pinch hit in Game 2.
    — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Guerrero left the contest in the fifth inning when Ty France pinch hit in his place.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Wilson was available to pinch hit in the ninth, but the Jaguars never got a runner on base.
    — Creg Stephenson | [email protected], al, 19 Feb. 2021
  • The next inning, Dalton Rushing pinch hit for him.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026
  • Roberts could have opted to pinch hit for Rojas in the moment, but elected to trust his gut.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Benitendi pinch hit in the ninth and grounded out to second.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
  • But with the Yankees trailing the Orioles late in the game, he was called on to pinch hit.
    — WSJ, 19 Apr. 2018
  • Mets rookie Phillip Evans got his first major league hit with a pinch hit double in the fifth.
    — Adry Torres, courant.com, 10 Sep. 2017
  • Mookie Betts rejoined the team in time to pinch hit against Chapman in the ninth inning.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 July 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pinch-hit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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