(Photo: Orlin Wagner, Associated Press)
Kansas City, Mo. — On Tuesday night, Joe Jimenez was conspicuous by his absence, as the Tigers' bullpen blew a 2-0 lead in the seventh and eighth innings.
On Wednesday, his presence was conspicuous, pitching a clean eighth inning, getting the ball to Shane Greene who closed out the Tigers 3-2 win over the Royals.
"I told Andy (pitching coach Rick Anderson) last night, this is Joe's job," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Just go back to that."
Gardenhire, for the second time this season, took Jimenez out of the eighth-inning set-up role after he'd allowed five earned runs in three outings covering two innings.