The Detroit Tigers just had one of those days. Not only did they show up late to work, but they ended up losing in extra innings.
The team was forced to spend an extra night in Boston Sunday after their plane experienced mechanical problems. The team played the Red Sox and were set to leave immediately after their win. After sitting on board the plane and waiting over an hour, they heard the news they were staying put.
”It was noisy until they told us the flight was cancelled,” Tiger Torii Hunter stated in an interview. ”We were having fun, jumping up and down and cracking jokes with each other. An hour and a half went by and then they said, ‘Hey, we’re going back to the hotel’ and all the jokes just stopped.”
The team’s staff was left to find 60 hotel rooms at 2 am, not giving the team much time to rest before playing the Indians. Hunter said he didn’t get to bed until about 4 am. They were also left to wear their black and orange striped pajama-like travel uniforms they put on after the game, as their equipment showed up after they did.
PHOTO: Plane troubles force Zubaz-wearing Detroit Tigers to take late night shuttle. http://t.co/7sc9N8ny78 pic.twitter.com/wcv3qXm4GG
— theScore (@theScore) May 19, 2014
Manager: Tigers 'a little sleepy' after delay: The Detroit Tigers had mechanical problems with their team plan… http://t.co/AWw4vjDsx9
— MLB Bloggers (@mlbbloggers) May 19, 2014
What is going on with the Detroit Tigers today? Are they late for a slumber party. I am very confused.
— Half St Heart Blog (@HalfStreetHeart) May 19, 2014
The team didn’t arrive to Progressive Field until about 4 pm, just three hours before the first pitch. And despite all of their efforts, they didn’t have what it takes to topple the Indians.
Detroit’s J.D. Martinez hit the long ball, tying up the game at four a piece in the ninth, but that’s where the Tigers’ luck ended.
Cleveland’s Michael Brantley homered off of Al Alburquerque with two outs in the 10th inning, sending the ball into the Tigers’ bullpen. The walk-off homer helped end the Tigers’ six game winning streak.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus didn’t use lack of sleep as an excuse for the team.
“The guys did a good job getting themselves prepared to play,” he said in an interview. “They were fine. The Indians were just better tonight.”
Image via Detroit Tigers, Twitter