Lakeland, Fla. – Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb, with his heavy 94-mph fastball and sweeping secondary pitches, is no party for left-handed hitters. He limited them to a .194 batting average last season. Against his fastball, a pitch he throws 64 percent of the time, lefties only managed a .214 average.
Which is why the Tigers were very encouraged to see Christin Stewart, their left-handed hitting left fielder, step into the box against Newcomb Saturday with two on and two out in the third inning and slash a first-pitch fastball off the right-field foul line for a two-run double.