New York — It was probably a low-percentage play, all things considered. But it was an aggressive play. And even though it didn’t exactly play out like they’d thought it might, it was a huge play in the moment.
The Tigers, with catcher Dillon Dingler and shortstop Zack Short, thwarted a double-steal attempt by the Mets in the seventh inning Wednesday night that kept the game tied 2-2.
“It’s a hard play,” Short said.
The Mets had just tied the game on a two-out, bloop single by Bo Bichette that sent Carson Benge scampering to third. Left-handed hitter MJ Melendez was up and righty Kyle Finnegan was on the mound for the Tigers.
The play was sent in from the bench to throw down to second if Bichette tried to steal.
“I didn’t love it right away,” Short said. “Because Kevin (McGonigle) was so far off third base and Benge is fast. As far off as Kevin was, he could’ve gotten three-quarters of the way down the line on his secondary.
“I was almost hoping Dingler wouldn’t throw it because Bo got an unbelievable jump.”
The Tigers figured they’d be able to throw out Bichette at second and end the inning and eliminate the threat of Benge at third base.
“I just thought we were going to throw Bo out at second,” Dingler said. “That turned out to be closer than I thought.”
Short’s reaction at second base made the play.
“I broke really late, hoping that Ding wouldn’t throw it,” Short said. “I figured as soon as he came up and threw, Benge could walk home. But Ding threw it and I saw out of the corner of my eye that Benge didn’t get a good jump. Then I was like, Dude, just catch the ball and he’s out by 30 feet.”
It wasn’t 30 feet but Dingler had plenty of time to secure the ball and apply the tag, cutting down the go-ahead run trying to steal home.
“Ding had to hit me on the run and I hate that throw,” Short said. “It’s such an intermediate throw and if it’s a bang-bang play, it has to be perfect. But when I looked up, Benge was nowhere near it. We actually timed it perfectly but I almost put my hands up telling Ding not to throw it.”
Throwing down to second with runners at first and third has been a play the Tigers are using more and more, largely because of Dingler’s arm strength and instincts.
“Just the out, that’s the initial target,” manager AJ Hinch said. “If they want to give us an out at second, we would’ve taken it. Obviously, we redirected it. But with Ding and Shorty as the combo, that’s two of the better arms on our team. Just play catch and we’re going to get and out somewhere.
“That combo was good enough to get an out there.”
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Gutsy defensive call helps Tigers cut down go-ahead run at plate in loss to Mets
Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
