Detroit — Seriously. You cannot script this.
J.D. Martinez had not taken a swing in a big league game since June 16. He was just activated Wednesday from the disabled list and wasn’t supposed to play.
But he was summoned to pinch-hit Wednesday night against Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale to lead off the eighth inning of a 1-1 game. He got a standing ovation as he walked to the plate.
The first pitch he saw was a 93-mph fastball from Sale. Martinez bashed it 434 feet into the shrubbery in center field, sending the Tigers to their eighth straight win — 2-1.