Leyland Sticks With Avila At Plate, No Matter What

Jim Leyland might have to pinch-run for Alex Avila in some late innings, but rare will be the time when he has to pinch-hit for him.

The season began with the manager wondering how his starting catcher would hit and how it would play out with both of his catchers -- Avila and Victor Martinez -- being in the lineup at the same time whenever a right-hander was pitching.

But after some initial struggles and being urged to relax and play like he did at Alabama, Avila did take some of the pressure off himself -- or maybe his catching improvement gave him confidence -- and soon was hitting for both average and power.

It extended to hitting against left-handed pitching as well. Avila sometimes looks awkward and takes bad swings against lefties, but his short stroke and ability to control the strike zone give him a chance to hit both lefties and right-handers.

Thus, when Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon sent in a southpaw, Cesar Ramos, to face Avila with a man on first and one out in the eighth, Leyland never hesitated in sending up the left-handed swinging Avila to the plate with the Tigers trailing by a run.

"He's normally pretty good against them," Leyland said. "He played against them in college, he's seen them a lot. He's got a chance to get a hit. I didn't expect a home run."

Avila, who already had a solo home run in the sixth, lofted a 1-0 fastball into the Detroit bullpen beyond the left field fence to turn the deficit into a one-run lead.

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