Detroit's first squeeze of season goes off without hitch

DETROIT -- Manager Jim Leyland doesn't call for a lot of suicide-squeeze plays, but it went according to script in the second inning of Saturday's game.

With the Tigers up 2-0 and Omar Infante on third base, Jose Iglesias bunted the ball in play to score Infante and then beat the throw to first for a single. It was the first squeeze play for Detroit this season.

"It was early in the game, but for one thing you don't expect them to be looking for it that early in the game," Leyland said. "We just took a shot with Iglesias that he could get it down, and to be honest with you, he bunted a tough pitch. It was a breaking ball, and he did a [heck] of a job getting that ball into fair territory."

The bunt not only surprised the Royals, but also some players on the Tigers.

"In fact, to be honest with you, we had it on the pitch before but [third-base coach Tom Brookens] took it off the way [Iglesias] reacted, like it stunned him, too," Leyland said. "And then I put it on again the next pitch."