Kansas City, Mo. — Tigers assistant pitching coach Juan Nieves threw his hat down. He was that sure.
"He called the shot," said Michael Fulmer, who closed out the Tigers' tense 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals Friday night. "He said, 'Tork homer here,' and he threw his hat down to confirm it. Everybody knows that, right? You throw your hat down to confirm your shot. You get one a game. If he doesn't hit it, you lose it.
"Juan got it right."
Did he ever.
Rookie Spencer Torkelson, with Miguel Cabrera on second and the Tigers down 1-0 in the seventh inning, shellacked an 0-1 sinker, belting it 432 feet over the Tigers’ bullpen and into the small section of seats in left field.