KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Francisco Rodriguez conundrum continued Monday night.
With the Tigers holding the slimmest of leads in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Royals, manager Brad Ausmus called on the veteran right-hander to protect a one-run lead for the first time since he lost his closer’s role in early May.
It did not go well. Rodriguez coughed up the lead by allowing a two-run home run to Eric Hosmer. It was his sixth home run allowed this season and fifth against a left-handed hitter.
But Ausmus was not forced to use Rodriguez: It was his choice.