Cabrera BM435536

Detroit held a 7-2 lead over the Kansas City Royals after the seventh inning stretch on April 21, 2018. But that did not mean they were going to take their foot off the accelerator. The first two Tigers reached base in the home half of the seventh with walks. Then, Dixon Machado and Leonys Martin advanced to second and third base on a wild pitch while Jeimer Candelario was at bat, an at-bat that would end in a strikeout. This baseball entered the game as the third pitch of Miguel Cabrera’s at-bat. Justin Grimm threw a curveball that Cabrera grounded right under the glove of third baseman Mike Moustakas, and into left field for a single. Both Machado and Martin raced home for the 1625th and 1626th RBI of Cabrera’s career, on his 2656th career hit, increasing the Detroit lead to 9-4. The baseball was returned to the mound for two more pitches, ending its service as a Nick Castellanos foul ball. Castellanos would continue to battle and eventually hit a ground rule double to advance Cabrera to third base. From there a Victor Martinez sacrifice fly would bring Cabrera home for the third run of the inning. Detroit scored two more in the eighth and won the game 12-4. The Tigers improved their record to 9-10 and sit in third place in the AL Central.