Leave it to the New York Yankees to screw up Miguel Cabrera’s chance at history.
While you can debate the strategy of the move until the cows come home, the Detroit Tigers fans in attendance at Thursday’s game wanted to see history. Unfortunately, they’ll have to wait another day.
Miguel Cabrera needs just one more base hit to join the elusive 3,000 hit club. After going 3-for-4 on Wednesday, the future Hall of Famer entered Thursday afternoon’s contest with 2,999 career hits.
The Detroit Tigers held a 1-0 advantage over the New York Yankees heading into the bottom half of the eighth inning on Thursday afternoon. After Jeimer Candelario grounded into a double-play, the Tigers had runners on second and third with two outs and Miguel Cabrera coming to the plate.
The Yankees intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera in the 8th inning.
With the crowd at Comerica Park coming to their feet and Miguel Cabrera approaching the batters’ box, the Tigers fans were ready to witness history. But after a brief mound visit, Aaron Boone made the unpopular decision to intentionally walk Cabrera in order to pitch to Austin Meadows.
On the surface, Boone made the smart “baseball” move. Austin Meadows, a left-handed batter, has historically struggled against left-handed pitchers and the Yankees had southpaw Lucas Luetge on the mound.
So, with the bases loaded and two outs Luetge’s first pitch to Meadows was looped into center field and the Tigers scored two runs and took a 3-0 lead into the ninth inning. The Yankees grounded into a double-play to end the ninth and the Tigers walked away victorious.
While the Detroit faithful who were at the ballpark probably feel cheated out of witnessing history, Aaron Boone made a strategical decision that 99-percent of managers would have made. Still, it doesn’t mean we have to like it.
History will have to wait at least one more day as the Detroit Tigers host the Colorado Rockies at 7:10 PM eastern time tomorrow night at Comerica Park.