Tigers Win but Lose Polanco to an Injury

Placido Polanco’s injury forced Ivan Rodriguez to play an unfamiliar position and left the Detroit Tigers wondering how the loss of their steady second baseman will affect their playoff run.

“It’s very sad, because we are all feeling so good right now,” Polanco said Tuesday night after separating his shoulder, then watching Craig Monroe break a ninth-inning tie with a popup single that gave Detroit a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

Polanco made a diving catch in the seventh to save a potential tying run, but needed to be helped off the field with a trainer supporting his left arm. Manager Jim Leyland said Polanco would be put on the disabled list.

Rodriguez said on the Tigers’ postgame broadcast that Polanco was out for the year.

“You don’t replace a guy like Polanco,” Leyland said. “This is one of those things that has to be digested. I’ll talk to the club about it, but we won’t make excuses. We’ve been fortunate with injuries this year, but they’re part of baseball.”

Because Brandon Inge had already been used as a defensive replacement, Rodriguez had to move from catcher to second base, with Vance Wilson taking over behind the plate. Rodriguez had never played second base in 2,256 major and minor league games.

“I’ve taken ground balls throughout the season, so if the team needs me, I’m ready,” he said.