Fielder Down to Last Swings at 50

Cecil Fielder remained stuck at 49 home runs, popping out twice and striking out twice as the Detroit Tigers lost, 4-1, Tuesday night to the New York Yankees.

Fielder, trying to become the 11th player to hit 50 homers, went hitless in four at-bats for the second game in a row, striking out twice. He has gone 20 at-bats since his last homer.

Tiger Manager Sparky Anderson moved Fielder from his usual No. 3 spot in the lineup to second, hoping to get him an extra at-bat, but it didn’t help. He was hitless in three tries against rookie Mark Leiter, against whom Fielder hit No. 47 on Sept. 16.

Anderson plans to bat Fielder leadoff in tonight’s finale.