The Tigers’ third inning Friday night turned costly in a hurry, and Hao-Yu Lee paid the biggest price.
Lee was injured in a collision at home plate with Guardians catcher Austin Hedges in the top of the third inning of Game 2 on Sept. 4 in Cleveland. The rookie tried to score from third on a ground ball to third by Spencer Torkelson, but Jose Ramirez’s throw arrived first. Lee appeared to bang knees with Hedges on the play.
He stayed bent over for several seconds before needing help getting up. Tigers trainers assisted him as he limped off the field.
The play came in the middle of an inning that had already started with promise for Detroit and ended with almost nothing to show for it. Lee had delivered an RBI single earlier in the frame, driving in a run after Zach McKintry singled and Gleyber Torres walked with no outs. Lee then moved to third on Kevin McGonigle’s RBI double, still with nobody out.
But the Tigers couldn’t cash in from there.
McGonigle was later thrown out on an unusual 6-2-4-5 fielder’s choice off the bat of Eduardo Valencia. Lee returned to third, McGonigle also ended up at third, and McGonigle was eventually caught in a rundown trying to get back to second. Lee was then thrown out at the plate, and Max Clark grounded out to close the inning.
Lee, who was serving as the designated hitter, did not finish the game. Dillon Dingler pinch-hit for him in the fifth inning.
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