LAKELAND, Fla. -- There's a reason that the Tigers have emphasized base running and pickoffs, and worked on them so much this spring.
It can mean the difference between a win and a loss, or preventing a dreaded exhibition tie.
The Tigers got all three of their runs in the fourth inning of a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees at Joker Marchant Stadium Thursday afternoon.
Miguel Cabrera walked, and singles by J.D. Martinez and Yoenis Cespedes loaded the bases.
Nick Castellanos hit a single the opposite way to score both Cabrera and Martinez, while Cespedes moved to third.
When Yankees catcher John Ryan Murphy couldn't corral Bryan Mitchell's wild pitch, Cespedes didn't hesitate. He took off running and didn't stop until he reached the Tigers' dugout.
"That was a very heads-up play," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He was aware of which direction the ball bounced off the catcher, and he did exactly what he should have done. Make no mistake, not every single player would do that."
In the fifth inning, the Tigers had another good chance to score because of the speed and awareness of Anthony Gose, who led off the inning with a single.
Jose Iglesias then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Gose didn't stop at second base. He saw no one was there to cover and beat the throw at third.
"It was a heads-up play," Ausmus said. "When he got to second, he was aware of where the defenders were and was able to take the extra base. At the time, it was a big play, runner on third, one out."
Although the Tigers didn't score that inning, Gose put them in good position to do so.
"I figured it would be a foot race between me and him, and it would be hard to catch it and tag," Gose said. "That's just another type of aggression. I just try to run with my head up, that's all. The closer you get to home plate, the better."
The Yankees got a run in the fifth and another in the seventh, so Cespedes' run turned out to be the game-winner.
The Tigers also benefited from two pickoffs, one in the seventh and another to end the game. The pickoffs have been another point of emphasis that Ausmus wants the Tigers to carry into the season.
"We certainly want our players to be cognizant of what's going on around them, especially on defense and on the bases," Ausmus said.
"Everyone wants to hit, everyone wants to make highlight-reel defensive plays, but base running goes unnoticed a lot. If the players have in some way learned to appreciate the value or the importance of base running and they enjoy it, I think it's a huge plus."
Nesbitt could head North
Angel Nesbitt has never pitched above Double-A, but that could be about to change.
The news Thursday that both Justin Verlander and Bruce Rondon would start the season on the DL meant that pitchers who were on the bubble would likely make the team.
Nesbitt started against the New York Yankees on Thursday, the second time he has faced them this spring.
This time, instead of Carlos Beltran and Alex Rodriguez, the names were a little less familiar. But Nesbitt treated John Ryan Murphy, Slade Heathcott, Taylor Dugas, Kyle Roller and Nick Noonan just like he did the better-known Yankees.
In two innings, Nesbitt allowed one hit (to Murphy), walked one and struck out one.
"It’s my first time starting in spring training," a smiling Nesbitt said in the clubhouse afterward. "I feel great. I can’t believe it. I tried to throw pretty good. I think I did. I feel good."
With the scoreless outing, Nesbitt lowered his spring ERA to 2.77 in 12 games. He has five walks and nine strikeouts in 13 innings.
"Nesbitt threw well," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He was a little up early, but he was fine overall."
Nesbitt said he hasn’t been told anything yet.
"I waited for this," he said. "They don’t tell me if I make the team or not. Everybody say I can be up with the team, but I’m not yet. I’m waiting for that."
Last year with the Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers, Nesbitt was 2-0 with an 0.79 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 24 games. He was promoted to the Double-A Erie Seawolves, where he was 1-0 with a 2.23 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 24 games.
Nesbitt said he added a cutter to his repertoire last season.
"I threw a couple. Not a lot, like this year," he said. "I tried to have another pitch. That’s good for you as a pitcher. I tried to throw everywhere in the zone, all sides, the middle. That’s what I tried to do with my cutter."
After his outing in Tampa against the Yankees, catcher Alex Avila said Nesbitt had impressed him with the way he was able to command all four of his pitchers and not rely too much on his hard fastball.
"I think he’s pretty close," Avila said. "I think his stuff no doubt can get major-league hitters out right now."
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