DETROIT — As the 27th man on the roster, Zack Short knew his time with the Tigers would be fleeting. He’d held his own through five Major League games earlier in the season, but Saturday provided a chance to make a real statement.
Short did that and then some, not only flashing the leather at shortstop but providing the eventual knockout punch during the Tigers’ 3-1 win against the Astros in Game 1 of a seven-inning doubleheader at Comerica Park.
When Friday’s rainout provided an extra day of rest for the pitching staff, manager A.J. Hinch opted to call up a position player for the day rather than an arm to help Detroit work through the split doubleheader. Short proved his skipper’s decision wise right away with a diving stop at shortstop in the second inning to rob Robel García of a base hit.
As sharp as Short looked in the field, he was even better at the plate, slugging the first extra-base hit of his career — a double to center to open the third. His biggest contribution came in the bottom of the fifth inning though, when the 26-year-old connected off of lefty Framber Valdez for his first career home run.
Short’s long ball came on a 1-1 changeup and was crushed over the right-field fence, but more importantly, it broke a 1-1 tie and gave Detroit the final advantage against the American League West leaders, who had won 11 straight games.