(Photo: Carlos Osorio, Associated Press)
Detroit — Truth be told, manager Ron Gardenhire didn't do Brandon Dixon any favors Sunday.
Bad enough he inserts him into the game in the eighth inning of a tie game to face tough Royals left-hander Jake Diekman and his 97-98 mph fastball and wipeout slider.
"He's kind of nasty," Dixon said after striking out on three pitches.
But Gardenhire then sent him out to play left field — a position he hasn't played since spring training — again, in a tie game.
"But I think that's what this team does well," Dixon said.