DETROIT -- Even if walking Miguel Cabrera increased the chances of a Detroit Tigers victory on Thursday, Robin Ventura liked the ploy.
He preferred to have White Sox closer David Robertson face Josh Wilson with two outs in the 10th inning, the bases loaded and the winning run on second instead of Cabrera with the winning run on first.
According to fangraphs.com, the choice to intentionally walk Cabrera to load ‘em up increased Detroit’s chances of winning from 17.4 percent to 27.5 percent. But Robertson struck out Wilson, who entered as a pinch runner in the ninth for Victor Martinez, on four pitches to preserve an 8-7 White Sox victory over the Tigers at Comerica Park.