DETROIT -- Prince Fielder got a pitch to his liking in the first inning Thursday night, and drove it high and deep.
The ball sailed over the scoreboard and wall for his first home run in over three weeks, and the Detroit Tigers' cleanup hitter jogged around the bases before celebrating at home plate with Andy Dirks.
Once inside the dugout, Fielder received an earful of joy from Miguel Cabrera. The handshakes, hugs and backslaps from his teammates were a little more boisterous and longer than usual.
Many in the crowd at Comerica Park stood and cheered after Fielder put the Tigers ahead for good with a two-run homer in what would be a 4-1 win over the Kansas City Royals. Perhaps it's reading too much into it, but it sounded as if they were applauding a little louder for Fielder after this one.
It’s been a rough couple of months for Fielder.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that on May 28 he filed for divorce from his wife, Chanel, in Florida’s Orange County. Although he’s kept producing runs throughout the season -- his 83 RBI are good for fifth in the American League -- Fielder's batting average dropped and he went 82 at-bats between homers.
Three reporters waited to speak with Fielder after the game. They approached him at his clubhouse cubicle after he pulled on a shirt and pants. He got up from his chair without making eye contact and did an exit stage right.
As a result, we weren’t able to ask him about the homer and the love he was shown.
Fielder has maintained that things are “fine” and can’t be blamed for avoiding reporters. This is a deeply personal situation he’s dealing with, but I don’t believe any of us were looking for specifics in regard to the divorce proceedings.
I just wanted to ask about his emotions connected to his teammates and the fans. Then again, did I really have to? It was pretty evident that it warmed his heart.
“He knows he’s going to get through it,” Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter said. “All of us have got issues in our lives, right?”
Hunter defended Fielder from his critics on a radio show by stating that nobody knew what he was going through. That prompted reporters to do a records search on Fielder, revealing the divorce he filed for near his home in Orlando.
“It’s all been amazing,” Hunter said. “But you make so much money, and people don’t care.”
He pursed his lips and shook his head.
“But we’re human,” Hunter added.
Asked about Fielder’s homer, Hunter said, “He hasn’t hit one in a while, so he felt good regardless. But he’s a strong man.”
Tigers catcher Brayan Pena was genuinely surprised when informed about what Fielder is going through. Pena said he was “sorry” to hear that and shook his head.
“I didn’t know what he was going through in his life,” said Pena, one of the club’s most engaging players. “What I see is that he goes out on the field every day and plays.
"Prince is going to be a great player, and tonight he showed why. When we got behind, he hit a big-time homer and we took off.”
Fielder has played 462 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors. He’s made another All-Star team and is batting .262 with 18 homers.
“He’s a great hitter,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “He’s a run-producer.”
Fielder hit over .300 for the first time in 2012 and was at .300 on May 9. Then the slide began, dropping his average to as low as .258.
However, he was 4-for-13 (.308) in this week’s series against the White Sox, who feature some pretty nasty left-handers.
Leyland said the only problem he’s seen with Fielder is that he’s “expanded” his strike zone. The skipper noted that doing so can happen when a left-handed hitter faces a tough string of southpaws.
“I think the guy’s done a tremendous job,” Leyland said. “He’s here to produce runs, and he’s done that for us.”
That’s why he’s getting $214 million over nine years from the Tigers.
But on days, weeks and months when your world is spinning off kilter, normal production can become difficult. I’ve seen athletes sputter badly when life becomes a strain.
Others find their only safe haven between the white lines. Coping is different for all of us -- no matter how much we make or how famous we are.
Support through the tough times is essential. Fielder received it Thursday night, and that had to make you smile about more than just the big homer he hit.
