Detroit Tigers broadcaster Jason Benetti set the scene.
“Bases loaded, down two,” Benetti said on Tuesday, Aug. 26, as the Tigers played the Athletics in West Sacramento, California.
Riley Greene was at the plate and he crushed a slider. “That’s a high fly ball – center field,” Benetti said. His voice was rising with excitement as Athletics center fielder Lawrence Butler took a couple courtesy steps toward the wall at Sutter Health Park: “Butler can only watch it fly over the batter’s eye.”
Then, Benetti put an exclamation point on it, injecting some gravitas while matching the significance of the moment: “IT’S A SLAM FOR RILEY GREENE!”
As the camera followed Greene into the dugout, a stat appeared on the screen. It was Greene’s 32nd homer and his 99th RBI. In a blink, several high-t