HOUSTON — In winning its first two games of the series against the Astros — also Detroit’s first two victories of the young season — the Tigers did not lack in offensive production.
That was not the case in Wednesday’s 8-2 defeat to Houston at Minute Maid Park. Detroit’s seven hits were five fewer than on Tuesday, but the Tigers did threaten on the basepaths.
After not stealing a base in any of their previous five games to start the season, the Tigers stole four times in the finale, closing out six games on the road before Thursday’s home opener against Boston.
“We’re going to be aggressive when we get the opportunity,” manager A.J. Hinch said.
One of the things Detroit was aware of going into the game was how Houston starter Cristian Javier focused on his pitch selection and execution. The right-hander, they knew, could be slow in getting the ball to home plate.
While difficult to string together hits against Javier, Detroit’s game plan was to be ultra-aggressive with runners on base. Which it did. Zach McKinstry, Riley Greene, Eric Haase and Matt Vierling each picked up a steal for the Tigers, and all four came with Javier on the mound and rookie César Salazar making his first Major League start behind the plate.
“Being on base is huge, but stirring up things on the bases is even better,” Haase said. “We need to keep putting pressure on the defense, forcing that issue. We have some guys that can run a bit. We have a little more speed than in years past.”
Not only did the Tigers take advantage of Houston’s battery, Detroit had good running counts. Salazar has a quality arm, but if the opportunity presented itself, the Tigers were going to take the bag.
Detroit got that little extra lean on Javier, who went six innings. The Tigers were successful on all four stolen-base attempts.
“It shows the versatility of the team,” Greene said. “It shows that we can all run a bit. When we can steal, we’re going to steal.
“That’s a good thing. If you get a single, somebody gets in scoring position, the odds go up.”
There are so many advantages to playing small ball.
“I feel once players are in scoring position, the hitter’s locked in even more,” said Greene, whose eighth-inning three-bagger was the club’s first triple of the season. “It’s like, ‘I’m going to grind that at-bat out and do the job and move them over and score.’”
In the first two games of the series in Houston, Detroit relied more on power. In Tuesday’s 6-3 win, the Tigers collected a season-high 12 hits, including a Spencer Torkelson home run.
“Some days you don’t get those big hits, but you can always take a base,” McKinstry said.
The Tigers really got aggressive in the third inning, swiping two bags, which resulted in their first run.
Following a one-out single by McKinstry, the second baseman beat Salazar’s throw to second. McKinstry came around to score on a single from Greene, who also stole second in the frame.
But Detroit could not put up a crooked number in the third inning, leaving two on base and scoring just once on three hits.
Haase stole second after leading off the fourth with a single, but he was stranded at second. Vierling stole second following a one-out single in the seventh, but he, too, was stranded to end the inning.
The Tigers scored just once as a result of the four stolen bases, but Detroit bench coach George Lombard put them in good position. Lombard is known for his prowess at breaking down opposing pitchers to help runners get big enough leads.
“We have a lot of young guys that are athletic, good on the basepaths. They know how to run the bases,” McKinstry said. “[The Tigers’ coaching staff] gives us the green light, and we’re good to go.”
In dropping all three games vs. Tampa Bay in their first series of the season, the Tigers were outscored, 21-3, and were playing mostly from behind.
Circumstances and the score did not dictate a need to run against the Rays.
Wednesday’s contest was different.
“It depends on how quick the pitcher is to the plate. There are a lot of different factors that go into stealing bases,” Greene said. “Some of the factors went our way today.”