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Tigers use HBPs as motivation in win over Tribe
- Updated: September 19, 2016
CLEVELAND — Justin Upton’s stroll around the bases on his two-run homer Sunday lasted 31.2 seconds, according to Statcast™, the slowest lap by a Tiger not named Victor Martinez this year. It may or may not have included the bat flip at home plate.
Upton has been known to admire home runs, but this one was bigger than him. Like his teammates, that swing, and the deliberate strides afterward, took out some frustration, as did the Tigers’ 9-5 win over the Indians.
“He definitely took his time around the bases,” Indians catcher Chris Gimenez said, “but the situation of the game, I completely understand it.”
The Tigers were frustrated about three teammates being hit by Trevor Bauer pitches, frustrated about their struggles to beat Cleveland all season, frustrated about a postseason chase that has turned on them over the last week and a half.
After seeing Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler and Martinez all reeling, they’d had it.
“No one likes to get hit,” catcher James McCann said, “but you look at the way they got hit — Miggy up on his hands, Kinsler in the head, and then Victor — I think the stat was that he’d thrown 10 balls at the time and three of them drilled a guy.
“I have no problem pitching in, but three guys? That’s gonna wake somebody up.”
The Tigers were wide awake. They were angry. But instead of getting out of control, they were focused.
“It certainly can create focus,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “You get …
