Hicks helps to keep Tigers rolling vs. White Sox
CHICAGO -- The Tigers are gaining a reputation as a team that will take chances on the basepaths to create something. John Hicks might soon have to be included among them."I'm getting a little upset about people thinking I'm slow," the backup catcher-turned starting first baseman joked after scoring the
CHICAGO -- The Tigers are gaining a reputation as a team that will take chances on the basepaths to create something.
"I'm getting a little upset about people thinking I'm slow," the backup catcher-turned starting first baseman joked after scoring the deciding run in Detroit's 4-3 win over the White Sox on Friday night.
As Hicks pointed out, he hit a leadoff triple to ignite Detroit's go-ahead rally Thursday against Minnesota. He also laid down a game-winning squeeze bunt last month. On Friday, he used a little bit of everything -- his bat, his legs and his glove -- to help the Tigers improve to 3-0 since
Hicks' second-inning solo homer opened the scoring as the Tigers jumped ahead early on White Sox starter
Hicks' line drive into right field greeted White Sox reliever
Up came Rule 5 Draft pick
"We were going on contact," Hicks said. "I saw the ball down and took off."
At first glance, Reyes' grounder to first looked easy for the White Sox to get the out at home. But as
"I might have been in trouble if he didn't," Hicks said.
Hicks could see Abreu out of the corner of his eye as he lumbered down the line, recognizing he could have to try to slide around a tag. As it turned out, he had enough of a break with the bobble to slide past.
"Really nice tap-slide," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We had to go there. We had to force the issue there."
Hicks, who batted .304 (31-for-102) with three homers, 14 RBIs, 13 runs and a .796 OPS while filling in for an injured Cabrera in May, is now 13-for-33 in June. Nearly as impressive is how comfortable he's getting with repeated starts at first base, a factor that became big once the White Sox threatened to tie it again in the bottom of the eighth.
Though the White Sox were testing Alex Wilson's previously injured left foot when they used Narvaez to bunt runners to second and third with one out, they were also putting pressure on the defense. An intentional walk to
"If it's hit soft, you're going to come home and try to get the force," Gardenhire said. "And I told Willie: You have to get the hitter out."
Charlie Tilson hit the second pitch to Hicks. With Tilson speeding down the line, Hicks went for home.
"I think Hicksy threw it with all thumbs to home plate," Wilson said, "but it worked, and I'm thankful that it did."
Said Hicks: "I didn't have the best grip on it. Thankfully, it got there."
What it didn't have was nerves. After a month of playing first base, he looks more comfortable.
"The more reps you have, the more comfortable you feel, especially in a big situation like that," Hicks said. "You can't have any panic."
SOUND SMART
HE SAID IT
"Very strange. I don't think he meant anything about it. There might have been some joke he was trying to get across, I don't know. But there was no harm involved." -- Fiers on Tim Anderson's reaction to being hit by a curveball, one pitch after Narvaez homered
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Jason Beck has covered the Tigers for MLB.com since 2002. Read Beck's Blog, follow him on Twitter @beckjason and Facebook.