Holaday's game-winning bunt a rare feat

CHICAGO -- Bryan Holaday's go-ahead bunt single Tuesday night wasn't just a rarity for a backup catcher. It was rare for anybody in a Tigers uniform.

According to research from Elias Sports Bureau, Holaday's go-ahead RBI was the first by a Tigers player on a bunt of any kind, single or sacrifice, in the ninth inning or later since June 4, 2000. That one, too, took place in Chicago, though on the other side of town.

Former Tigers utility great Shane Halter plated the Tigers' winning run that day at Wrigley Field, where he laid down a bunt single to third with two outs in the 12th inning to score Bobby Higginson. He put down the bunt against former Tigers pitcher Todd Van Poppel.

Halter, of course, had a more historic feat at the end of that season, when he played all nine positions Oct. 1 against the Twins at the Metrodome. He remains the last Tiger to do that in a game.