Milwaukee — Nick Maton was in a 0-for-21 spiral Sunday when manager AJ Hinch sent him in to pinch-hit for Tyler Nevin in the eighth inning in Baltimore. Tigers had finally scratched a run across to break the 0-0 tie and they still had a runner at third base.
Hinch wanted Maton’s left-handed bat against Orioles’ right-hander Austin Voth. Orioles’ manager Brandon Hyde wanted no part of the matchup — even if Maton hadn’t gotten a hit in nine days. He gave Maton the first intentional walk of his career.
“That tells you all you need to know about how good Nick Maton can be,” Hinch said.
Hinch gave Maton another vote of confidence Monday, batting him fourth against Brewers right-hander Colin Rea.
“First off, we’re going to stay really consistent with our belief in our guys,” Hinch said. “He’s a really good hitter who can do a ton of damage.”
Since hitting a walk-off, three-run home run in the 11th inning to beat the Giants on April 14, Maton fell into a 1 for 25 rut. Hitting in the leadoff spot against right-handed starters, he was having jumpy at-bats, chasing more pitches out of the zone than he usually does, overswinging at good pitches more often than he usually does.
“He was a little bit anxious at the beginning of games,” Hinch said. “He’s a swing-first guy. He can do a lot of damage in the middle of the order. Having him and (Kerry) Carpenter back to back creates a lot of run scoring opportunities for us.”
Akil Baddoo has moved into the leadoff spot against right-handed starters.
“This order, we’ve got speed at the top with Akil and hopefully we will be able to do some damage in the middle and start scoring more runs on a consistent basis,” Hinch said.
Talking to Maton, you wouldn’t know if he’s in a 0-for-22 rut or on a 12-for-22 hot streak. He’s the same every day, both in demeanor and process.
“I’ve been grinding,” he said. “But I’m seeing the ball well, I feel like. The results will come if you keep putting in your work … I know this, when they do come, they will come in bunches.”
Indeed. Maton snapped his hitless streak in his first at-bat Monday, with a bunt single.
“I was pumped to see him playing back,” Maton said of Brewers third baseman Mike Brosseau. “I was like, ‘Dude, if you’re going give it to me, I’m going to lay it down. I’ve been grinding, man.”
Next time up in the third inning, Maton delivered the pivotal blow in the Tigers’ 4-2 win, blasting a three-run home run.
“It’s amazing what one hit can do to decompress and relax you,” Hinch said. “Pretty good at-bat, gets into a good count (3-1) and gets a ball he can drive and he changes the scoreboard. It’s early but there’s been a lot piling up- on these guys. I think Nick can exhale tonight knowing he did a great job.”
Risky strategy
Speaking of intentional walks, Hyde used them like a weapon against the Tigers in the 10th inning Sunday.
With the free runner on third base and one out, and with lefty Keegan Akin (Western Michigan) pitching, Hyde issued a free pass to right-handed hitting Eric Haase. With two outs, he issued another free pass to right-handed hitting Spencer Torkelson, loading the bases.
He did that knowing that both Javier Báez and Miguel Cabrera, accomplished right-handed hitters, were sitting on the Tigers’ bench. Somehow, he also seemed to know Hinch wouldn’t use either one. Báez was scratched from the starting lineup with a jammed finger on his left hand, but Hinch indicated before the game he could be available.
“He probably saw Javy in the corner with his hoody up,” Hinch said. “Javy worked out a little bit in the middle of the game and then came in and sat at the end of the dugout. You’ve got guys (in the Orioles’ dugout) looking all over the place. He probably saw Javy at the end of the bench not moving a ton and the indication was he wasn’t likely to be used.”
The finger was still too sore for Baez to grip a bat, especially on a cold day. As for Cabrera, Hinch already had emptied his bench. If he used Cabrera to pinch-hit in the top of the 10th, he would’ve had to play in the field in the bottom of the 10th.
Cabrera hasn’t taken any defensive reps this season, not even in spring training.
Hyde knew that, too. So he walked the two right-handed hitters to get to lefty-swinging Maton and won the battle. Maton popped out.
“Those left-handed hitters can hit left-handed pitching,” Hinch said. “We just didn’t do it in that particular instance. But they’re not automatic outs against left-handed pitching. There was still a lot of risk involved in loading the bases for free.
“He got away with it. We’ll see if that plays out again this weekend.”
The Orioles and Tigers play a four-game series at Comerica Park, Thursday through Sunday.
Around the horn
You may have noticed as Eduardo Rodriguez was working on a perfect game into the seventh inning Sunday, that catcher Jake Rogers was calling pitches old-school. He was using his fingers instead of the PitchCom. “Yeah, Eduardo likes it that way until a guy gets on second base,” Rogers said. “It’s quicker, faster, more comfortable for him.” They didn’t have to go to the PitchCom at all because Rodriguez didn’t allow a runner to get to second base in his seven innings.
…Tigers first-base coach and infield coach Alfredo Amezaga is going to be a manager for the first time. He will manage Tomateros de Culiacan in the Mexican Pacific Winter League in the fall. Amezaga is from Ciudad Obregon and played two seasons for Culiacan at the end of his playing career in 2017 and 2018.
chris.mccosky@detroitnew.com
Twitter: @cmccosky