The Detroit Tigers lost a close 3-2 game to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, in a game that can be chalked up to bad luck.
To be fair, the luck went both ways. Great plays by Jose Iglesias and Miguel Cabrera saved hits. And a fielder’s choice by Chris Archer, instead of a double play, allowing the inning to continue and a run to score.
The other Tigers run scored on the strength of a Miguel Cabrera home run. They were in another threatening spot in the bottom of the ninth against Rays closer Álex Colomé. Mikie Mathook was able to reach base, and after a sacrifice bunt by Iglesias there was a runner on second with Ian Kinsler and Alex Avila due up. However, they were both retired to end the game.
Everything in the late innings of games goes under a microscope. Every managerial decision will get called into question. Like the decision to give up an out to move a runner up 90 feet. Brad Ausmus made the call he thought was right, which will not make every fan happy.
Fans are often wary of Ausmus (as they are with most baseball managers).
If he didn’t call for Iglesias to bunt, then they would have had three chances to get Mathook from first to home. Instead they only had two. But the sacrifice was absolutely the right call to make given the scenario.
With the top two hitters in the lineup due up, they have a better chance of getting one hit that brings the run home. Without the bunt, there is a chance both runners get erased with a double play. It is much better to have Kinsler and Avila get chances with a runner in scoring position than for them to hit with no runners on base.
Looking beyond even the hitter, Colomé is one of the better closers in the American League. The odds of getting a runner home from first are not great. And the odds of knocking a ball out of the park … well, in 31 innings the Rays closer has allowed only one long ball.
A track record like that means one thing, Ausmus made the right call making Iglesias bunt. There was no reason to try and force multiple hits off of a pitcher of Colomé’s caliber. He gave the Detroit Tigers the best chance to win with the given scenario.
Trevor Hooth is from Farmington, Connecticut. He is a senior Communication major at Millikin University where also plays baseball.