KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Before Wednesday night’s game, Ron Gardenhire had a talk with JaCoby Jones.
After hitting so well over the past three weeks, Jones was moved up nine spots in the batting order against the Royals, all the way up to leadoff.
Permanent? To be determined. An opportunity, with Niko Goodrum out? Absolutely.
Gardenhire’s message was simple: Don’t change a thing.
Jones listened.
Leading off the top of the eighth inning, Jones walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brandon Dixon to give the Tigers a 3-2 win over the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.