(Photo: Jose Juarez, Associated Press)
Detroit — Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire’s message to his baseball team the day after a sloppy, uninspired 10-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox was calm, but direct. And apparently taken to heart.
“We have to finish this out,” Gardenhire said. “That’s our message to these guys. Don’t stop playing now. Keep playing. Finish this out. Because it does mean something. What they are doing now, it means something.”
The young Tigers, most of whom will be fighting for non-guaranteed roster spots next season, responded. They played a much crisper, competitive game here Saturday night.