Ausmus wins challenge on disputed Romine steal

DETROIT -- Tigers manager Brad Ausmus hasn't had much to challenge during his team's seven-game winning streak. He got his opportunity Wednesday, overturning a call on Andrew Romine's stolen-base attempt to give the Tigers a brief second-inning opportunity with a runner in scoring position.

The call in question came on Romine's second attempt at stealing second. He was sent back in the first one when home-plate umpire Seth Buckminster ruled that batter Rajai Davis interfered with catcher Jason Castro. By rule, Davis was called out, and Romine was sent back to first base.

Three pitches later, with Ian Kinsler up, Romine took off again. Initially, second-base umpire Mike Winters ruled that shortstop Marwin Gonzalez tagged Romine in time. Ausmus challenged the call, and replay showed that Romine got his foot to the base ahead of the tag.

A look from Major League Baseball's replay headquarters in New York came to the same conclusion after a one-minute, 46-second review. Three pitches later, Kinsler lined out to third baseman Matt Dominguez to end the threat.

Ausmus improved to 5-for-8 in challenges.