MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Detroit utility player Andrew Romine played all nine positions as the Tigers beat Minnesota 3-2 in an inconsequential Major League Baseball match on Saturday night.
It didn’t go exactly as planned for manager Brad Ausmus, but it was pretty close, as Romine became the fifth major leaguer to play every position in a single game.
“Moving around and stuff, it got hectic, but it was fun,” Romine said.
Detroit Tigers’ Andrew Romine pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Minneapolis. Romine joined a select few players by playing in all nine positions during the game. The Tigers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Romine, 31, pitched to Miguel Sano in the eighth, and the All-Star slugger bounced to third on a 3-1 pitch. He topped out at 87 mph on the stadium’s radar gun.
Romine then switched to first base, his ninth position of the night. The former Angels draft pick joined Bert Campaneris, Cesar Tovar, Scott Sheldon and Shane Halter on the exclusive list of players to accomplish the feat.
“I’m not sure I wanted him to face Sano in a one-run game,” Ausmus said, “but he got him out, so I give him credit.”
Ausmus was Halter’s teammate when he played all nine positions for Detroit against Minnesota on Oct. 1, 2000. Ausmus and Romine had discussed the idea for two years but hadn’t felt like the time was right to carry it out until Saturday night at Target Field with no postseason implications at stake.
Romine also played catcher for the first time in the majors for four at-bats in the seventh inning. The Twins scored one run off Blaine Hardy to pull within one, and Romine committed a passed ball that caused Ausmus to insert James McCann at catcher and move Romine to second base.
Romine made five putouts, including the first and last outs. He began the evening in left field and ended at first, where he fielded Zack Granite’s ground ball to clinch the victory, snapping a six-game losing streak against the Twins.
“That was something else,” Romine said. “I tried to focus as much as I could without getting caught up in the moment.”
Detroit Tigers’ Andrew Romine, left, is pulled as catcher during the baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Minneapolis. Romine joined a select few players in history by playing in all nine positions during the game. The Tigers won 3-2. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Twins catcher Jason Castro tags out Detroit Tigers’ Andrew Romine, after he tried to score from third on a single by Nicholas Castellanos during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones makes a diving try but can’t pull in the ball for a hit by Minnesota Twins’ Ehire Adrianza in the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Detroit Tigers’ Jaime Candelario, left, slides past Minnesota Twins’ catcher Jason Castro to score after Castro dropped the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Minnesota Twins pitcher Dillon Gee throws in relief against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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