http://www.detroitnews.com/article/...Austin-Jackson-back-leadoff-Tigers-maybe-good
Austin Jackson back at leadoff for Tigers, maybe for good.
detnews
Jackson returns to top of Tigers' order.
For at least one day, Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson was back in the leadoff spot.
Jackson's played 557 games batting leadoff for the Tigers, but he had only hit first once this season prior to Sunday's series finale with the Astros at Minute Maid Park. For his career, Jackson's average is .281 atop the order.
If it goes well, manager Brad Ausmus would consider leaving him in the role.
"Well, he's done it before," Ausmus said. "I hope he goes 3-for-4 and I have to end up leaving him in there and he keeps hitting."
Jackson has struggled this year for the Tigers, batting .249 primarily as the Tigers' fifth, sixth or seventh hitter. He has 29 RBIs hitting behind the likes of Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.
He batted first exclusively last year, when his average declined to .272, down from .300 in 2012.
Ausmus said the move to put Jackson back at leadoff is to simply try to get his bat going again.
"He's still having good at bats, but the hits aren't always falling," Ausmus said. "Hopefully we change his luck."
Another lineup change for the Tigers was the absence of second baseman Ian Kinsler. In the midst of his hitting streak and on the morning after his game-winning, ninth-inning home run, Kinsler got a day off.
Kinsler has multiple hits in a career-high seven consecutive games. He's the first Tigers player to have a streak that long in one season since Frank Bolling in 1960.
His second hit Saturday came with two outs in the ninth and was responsible for the Tigers' 4-3 win over the Astros.
"When you have a bad game you want to come back the next day and atone for it," Ausmus said. "When you have a good game or you do something well, it's easier to sit there and kind of mentally shut down and just watch the game."
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