Upton exorcises spring demons with multi-homer game
Justin Upton's first spring training with the Detroit Tigers has been underwhelming. His first Grapefruit League homer, however, was anything but.
On Saturday, after eking out just a .189 average with a .550 OPS through his first 15 exhibition games with his new club, Upton exorcised his March demons with a mammoth solo shot off Philadelphia Phillies left-hander James Russell in the first inning at Bright House Field.
Upton didn't stop there, though, smashing another solo shot off right-hander Luis Garcia in the top of the sixth that sailed well beyond the wall in center field, giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
Though he had struggled at the plate prior to Saturday's contest, Upton - who signed a six-year, $132.5-million deal with the Tigers in January - is actually a notoriously strong starter, managing an .886 OPS in the month of April throughout his career.
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