Special to The Detroit News
Lakeland, Fla. − Another night, another home run for Nick Maton, which doesn’t necessarily surprise a Tigers team that insisted Maton be part of January’s deal that shipped Gregory Soto to Philadelphia.
The homer he slammed Friday night against the Pirates at Publix Field/Marchant Stadium was a keeper – 418 feet into the bullpen in right field, with a zesty 102.9 exit velocity. It was part of the Tigers’ 15-hit spurt in a game that finished in a nine-inning, 6-6 tie.
Factored in with his Thursday night blast at Sarasota, and Maton, who is playing infield as well as outfield for the Tigers, suddenly has the team-lead in Grapefruit League homers with five.