Heading into Friday night's game against Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers 3B Jeimer Candelario had really been struggling in a big way as he was batting just .186 with just five home runs and 19 RBIs. In fact, Candy had not hit a home run for the Tigers since Memorial Day Weekend.
But none of that mattered at all on Friday as Candelario was one of the main reasons why the Tigers defeated the White Sox 7-5 to increase their current winning streak to six games.
In the game, Candelario was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. He also scored a pair of runs in the contest for the Tigers.
Jeimer Candelario puts on show as Detroit Tigers win sixth in a row
Following the game, Jeimer Candelario spoke to reporters about coming up big for the Detroit Tigers.
“It always feels great to contribute to the team,” Candelario said. “You want to contribute. You want to be in the lineup every single day. You want to produce. This is the big leagues, we've got to produce and win ballgames. We've got to perform.
“That's what we've been working really hard to do.”
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Candelario hit his home run off of White Sox starter Lucas Giolito, who he has pretty much owned during his career (.344 batting average). Candy told reporters that he was sitting fastball and reacted when Giolito threw a changeup.
“I've faced him a lot in my career,” he said. “You've got to make the adjustment. He's a guy who feels good about his changeup and his fastball.”
“I wasn't sitting on the changeup,” he said. “I was just trying to see the fastball and hit it the other way. But threw me the changeup and I was ready to react.”
The Detroit Tigers' offense was a big problem for most of the first half of the season but they have really started to heat up and the wins are coming along with it.