Tigers name Lloyd McClendon interim manager

Lloyd McClendon (Eric Enfermero, Wikimedia Commons)

Lloyd McClendon of Gary, Indiana has become the interim manager of the Detroit Tigers effective immediately according to R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports on Saturday. McClendon takes over from Ron Gardenhire of Butzbach, Germany, who retired this past weekend due to health concerns. In recent months, Gardenhire was experiencing a great deal of stress, to the point that his hands were starting to shake.

McClendon has significant managerial experience at the Major League Baseball level. He spent five years managing the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2001 to 2005, and two seasons managing the Seattle Mariners from 2014 to 2015. In seven years, he has a record of 499 wins and 607 losses.

On Saturday, McClendon won his 500th career game as a manager. He guided the Tigers to a 5-2 win over the Cleveland Indians. The Tigers were trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning, when Detroit scored four runs to win the game by three. Detroit got a quality start from Spencer Turnbull, who gave up only two earned runs in six innings of work.

Gardenhire meanwhile had spent 16 seasons managing in the American League, 13 seasons with the Minnesota Twins from 2002 to 2014, and the last three seasons with the Tigers since being named to the role on October 20, 2017. In 2480 games, Gardenhire had a record of 1200 wins and 1280 losses. He is 46th all-time in wins for a Major League manager.

The Tigers meanwhile are in fourth place in the American League Central with a record of 22 wins and 30 losses. They are currently four games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the final playoff spot in the American League. The only team between the Tigers and Blue Jays are the Seattle Mariners, who are half a game ahead of Detroit, at 23 wins and 30 losses.

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