Okay, has this guy made an impact on the Detroit Tigers or what?
In addition to some already great defensive plays, C.J. Cron has now launched his second home run in three games for the Tigers, giving them the lead in the 9th inning over the Cincinnati Reds with a 363 foot blast to right field:
C.J. CRON.
WE ARE ALL WITNESSES.
Tigers have THE LEAD!#DetroitRoots pic.twitter.com/INlCaWqDrp— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) July 26, 2020
[videopress pdhme8TH]
BONUS CONTENT: Several Detroit Tigers players kneel during national anthem
Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire gave some hints as to how his team would acknowledge the Black Lives Matter movement prior to tonight’s opener against the Cincinnati Reds at The Great American Ballpark, and they made good on it.
“Major League Baseball actually did this shirt, put it in everybody’s locker. We all know what we’re trying to do here and that’s awareness, making people aware of what’s been going on in our country,” Gardenhire said while wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt.
Several members of the team knelt during the National Anthem, including Jeimer Candelario, Niko Goodrum, Joe Jimenez, Cameron Maybin and Christin Stewart. First base coach Dave Clark joined them.
Niko Goodrum, Christin Stewart, Cameron Maybin, Jeimer Candelario, Joe Jimenez and coach Dave Clark stayed on a knee during the National Anthem pic.twitter.com/PamjhNLosT
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) July 24, 2020
The entire Tigers team kneels during the Players Alliance video pic.twitter.com/EcIyQHvYNs
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) July 24, 2020
Prior to the anthem, a video from The Players Alliance (made up of over 100 current and former black players) was played on the venue’s scoreboard. During the video, all players from the Tigers and Reds both knelt while clutching a black rope.
BONUS CONTENT
Michael Fulmer’s comeback start with Tigers is aligning with a special day in Detroit
It has been a long road back for Detroit Tigers SP Michael Fulmer, who has gone nearly 2 years without pitching against hitters from another team.
But on Wednesday, Fulmer took the mound for the Tigers in a Summer Training game against the Cincinnati Reds, and now he is lined up perfectly to make his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery. That start looks like it will come on what is an unofficial holiday in Detroit.