Collins apologizes for rude gesture to home fans
It didn't take Tyler Collins very long to see the error of his ways.
After flipping the bird at the Detroit Tigers' home crowd in a 7-3 win Monday over the Oakland Athletics, the outfielder spoke to reporters and immediately owned up to his actions.
"To be at home and hear the boos, hit a trigger in me and I lashed out completely inappropriately," Collins said, according to Matthew B. Mowery of The Oakland Press. "I'm absolutely embarrassed it happened and I'm very sorry."
The crowd began to boo Collins after he lost a pop-up in the lights at Comerica Park that led to the end of starter Jordan Zimmermann's scoreless streak at 24 1/3 innings. Upon realizing how Collins responded to fans, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus immediately spoke to the 25-year-old, and did so again after the game.
"He regrets it. It was an emotional reaction. He knows it was wrong. He screwed up. He's a young guy that screwed up," Ausmus told reporters.
Collins' gesture will reportedly be reviewed by Major League Baseball.
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