Detroit Tigers: Holaday slam, Cabrera ‘so happy’ in return, Iglesias slow start

The Detroit Tigers picked up a rare victory, beating Miami, 8-4, in Spring Training on Wednesday. It didn’t look good early, however, as the Tigers fell behind to the Marlins, 4-0, and had just two hits through five innings.

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A sixth-inning rally capped off by backup catcher Bryan Holaday‘s gram slam changed all that.

First baseman Miguel Cabrera didn’t have a hit in the victory, but he did make an impressive defensive play, diving to his right to stop a line drive. The play saved a run for starter Alfredo Simon.

This was Cabrera’s first action in the field during a game this month, and as one would assume, he is extremely pleased to be back on the diamond.

As Tigers fans know, the team came into March with many questions marks and most of them are still left unanswered at this point in Spring Training.

One of those unanswered questions is shortstop Jose Iglesias. Although he has remained healthy since his line drive off the shin accident a few weeks ago, Iglesias is batting just .091 this spring. Still, manager Brad Ausmus isn’t a bit concerned.

Holaday gives himself, Tigers big boost with slam – Chris McCosky, The Detroit News 

"The Tigers had greeted reliever Sam Dyson with four straight singles and two quick runs when Holaday stepped up with the bases loaded. He unloaded on a 1-1 fastball and sent it to the berm in left field.“That felt good,” he said. “The guy was throwing his fastball between 98 and 100 mph. So it felt good to hit that.”The Tigers went on to beat the Marlins 8-4.“It was good to see that,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “It was a big hit for Doc (Holaday) but it was a big hit for us. It looked like we were dragging our feet for a few innings and that gave us some energy.”"

Cabrera ‘so happy’ to return to first base for Tigers – Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press

"In his first start at first base of the spring after off-season surgery on his right foot and ankle, Cabrera pulled off a solid defensive play in the first inning of today’s 8-4 victory over the Miami Marlins at Joker Marchant Stadium.With two outs and a runner on third, Cabrera dove to his right to snatch a liner off the bat of former Tiger Don Kelly. While lying on his back, he threw out Kelly to save a run."

Tigers’ Brad Ausmus dismisses Jose Iglesias’ slow start: ‘I’m not concerned at all’ – James Schmehl, MLive.com

"Iglesias, who is just 3 for 33 at the plate this spring, singled in the third inning Wednesday, which snapped a string of 23 at-bats without a base hit this spring. It was his first hit since March 10.“I’m more concerned with his playing time than his batting average in spring training, for sure,” Ausmus said.Heading into camp last month, there was concern as to whether Iglesias would be able to sustain a heavy workload at shortstop after missing the previous season with stress fractures in both shins.Ausmus said he continues to monitor Iglesias’ workload, but is starting to feel much more comfortable with the idea that Iglesias can play on an everyday basis."

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