Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle gets last laugh after HR robbery
MLB's No. 2 prospect collected his first game-winning hit after his first home run was stolen.
Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle gets last laugh after HR robbery originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Detroit Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle looked over at second base, where Jackson Merrill stood – grinning.
A half-inning earlier Friday at Petco Park, the San Diego Padres center fielder robbed McGonigle of his first career home run. Merrill rose above the center-field wall to snare the line drive. After doubling to lead off the third inning, Merrill exchanged pleasantries with his defensive victim.
As if to rub it in on his new rival, Merrill held up four fingers , signifying his 4-for-5 effort McGonigle enjoyed during his MLB debut Thursday. McGonigle ended up getting the last laugh on the Padres. Rookie Kevin McGonigle making early mark With the Tigers trailing the Padres, 2-1, with two outs in the eighth inning, McGonigle faced left-hander Wandy Peralta with the bases loaded.
He worked the count full and delivered a line-drive single to right-center field, scoring Colt Keith and Gleyber Torres. Cather Dillon Dingler followed with a run-scoring single as the Tigers forced the Padres relievers into releasing more than 40 pitches during the four-run stanza. The Tigres’ organization stressed more competitive at-bats during the offseason.