Lakeland, Fla. — For most workers, seven-month vacations are a dream.
Not so for baseball players, particularly hitters, who if they care to stay on pace with 95-mph fastballs and cunning breaking stuff need more of a routine.
The Tigers’ top minor-league batters, a bit too well-rested after a long COVID-19 layoff, scored only a lone run again Friday in their second game from this month’s freshly convened Instructional League, losing 2-1 to the Pirates’ top prospects at Marchant Stadium’s Publix Field.
The Tigers outhit Pittsburgh, 6-4, but only two hits went for extra bases: Spencer Torkelson’s torched first-inning double down the left-field line in the first, and Andre Lipcius’ wind-kicked double over the right-fielder’s head in the second.