Chicago -- When the Tigers acquired Jose Iglesias from the Boston Red Sox, Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington told Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski that Iglesias would "make plays you've never seen before."
Cherington wasn't kidding.
Aside from another Miguel Cabrera home run off a great pitcher in Chris Sale, the Tigers (69-48) did not do a whole lot Monday night in a 6-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox (45-72).
But Iglesias did something that had everyone's jaws dropping as they watched it live, then again on replay.
Sox catcher Josh Phegley hit a broken-bat ground ball that bounced over Doug Fister's outstretched glove and dribbled to Iglesias. Iglesias scooped the ball up bare-handed and flicked it to first baseman Prince Fielder while falling down.
First base umpire Mike Winters signaled that Phegley was out on the close play.
"Unbelievable. I've never seen nothing like that," Tigers catcher Brayan Pena said. "It was amazing. The fact that he was diving for it and kept one motion and he make a pretty good, accurate play to first, that says a lot about the kid."
Tigers manager Jim Leyland was equally impressed with the 23-year-old rookie.
"He made a great play, absolutely terrific play," Leyland said. "He's doing very well. He's really a good-looking young player. We're very happy with him."
Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter has seen a lot of excellent defensive players in his 17 seasons.
"Iglesias, man, since he's been here, he's making some plays," Hunter said. "I'm talking about plays that I haven't seen in a long time. So I definitely think that it's an upgrade defensively, having him at shortstop. Having him on our side, he's going to save a lot of runs and kill a lot of innings so I'm glad to have him a part of this ballclub."
Hunter said he remembered White Sox second baseman Tadahito Iguchi make a similar highlight-reel move.
"He made a play and he got it and threw it and fell, it was kind of like the same thing from a different angle," Hunter said. "I've seen a play like that before but just not live."
Fister, like Rick Porcello, is a ground-ball pitcher and will definitely benefit from having Iglesias playing behind him.
"He's a great defender, he's going to give you everything he has and he's shown it," Fister said. "He's going out there battling through everything and making great plays like that."
It's been a long time since the Tigers had a shortstop win a Gold Glove.
Alan Trammell was the last Tiger to do so, winning four Gold Gloves in 1980-81 and 1983-84.
If Iglesias keeps doing things like he did Monday night at U.S. Cellular Field, he could be the next.
"I've seen Roberto Alomar, I've seen a lot of guys and he's with the best," Hunter said. "He's up there. He's confident with that glove. That's what we need him to bring every day. The bat a little bit but that glove a lotta bit."
Infante returns
Omar Infante came off the disabled list and played second base Monday for the first time since July 2, when he hurt his left ankle against Toronto. Hernan Perez was sent to Triple-A Toledo to make roster room for Infante.
Infante went 0-for-4 against Sale.
He's just got to get back in the swing of things," Leyland said. "Speed of the game up here's a little bit more than it is in Triple-A, obviously, and he'll get back into the speed of it. He'll be fine."
Cabrera homers again
Cabrera hit a home run for the fourth straight game, his second such streak of the season, and extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Cabrera's feat is notable because he's still not 100 percent as he deals with his hip-abdominal injury.
"That's probably why he's hitting homers, he's like, I don't feel like running, let me just hit a homer and jog," Hunter said. "That's the type player he is. Man, he's a special player, special hitter. Something like that, he can't run, he just figured he'll try to hit home runs and he's been doing it.
"He's in his own world. He's in another league. Everybody knows that. It's nothing that people don't already know. Same stuff. He's good. He's great, actually."
Sale wasn't surprised that Cabrera got him on the first pitch he saw.
"He’s a big strong guy," Sale said. "You miss by an inch and he’s going to make you pay. He did. That’s why he’s the best hitter in the league and probably all time."
