Cleveland – Andy Ibanez’s superpower, typically, is his ability to crush left-handed pitching. It’s one of the reasons president Scott Harris jumped when the Texas Rangers put him on waivers last November.
On Monday, though, manager AJ Hinch put him in the lineup against right-handed starter Tanner Bibee. Ibanez had some recent at-bats against Bibee in Triple-A. He and Zack Short were the only Tigers with any history against hm. Good call.
Ibanez proved to be the offensive catalyst in the Tigers’ 6-2 win over the Guardians at Progressive Field in the first of a three-game set.