New-Look Lineup Produces A Win, But Leyland Wanted More
It wasn't broken the first time he tried it, so Jim Leyland isn't likely to try fixing the Tigers' new lineup.
"We missed some chances for some add-on runs," Leyland criticized his own new batting order Wednesday after Detroit's 4-0 win over the New York Yankees.
The return of Victor Martinez produced some lineup shifts.
Ryan Raburn was the odd outfielder out. Magglio Ordonez returned to right field but was dropped from third to sixth in the batting order, hitting behind Martinez.
Brennan Boesch shifted from right to left and was installed in the third spot in the order. The thinking behind that was two-pronged, that Boesch's speed can keep him out of double plays, and he'll benefit from the probability of seeing more fastballs hitting in front of Miguel Cabrera.
And on Tuesday, Scott Sizemore replaced Will Rhymes at second base and as the No. 2 hitter in the order.
Boesch did something in the third inning Wednesday that Ordonez couldn't have done -- score from first on a double to left by Cabrera.
"We talked about that (in deciding on the change)," Leyland said.
Ordonez did something that's been lacking -- turning on a pitch and lining it over the left field fence after Cabrera's RBI double. He also singled for his second two-hit game in a row.
Leyland has talked of preferring Ordonez, a veteran professional hitter, in the third spot because of his situational versatility. That may come to pass, but probably not after a win.
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