New York – Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire didn’t have to explain the move, not to Christin Stewart nor to the public. It was, for the most part, a no-brainer.
In a tie game in the ninth inning Tuesday, against Yankees left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman, Gardenhire used switch-hitting Niko Goodrum to pinch-hit for the left-handed swinging Stewart. Stewart was 1 for 19 this season, and in his short MLB career he is just 2 for 12 against left-handed pitchers.
And Chapman, well, he’s a miserable at-bat for any left-handed hitter, regardless of talent or experience level (.