McKinstry praises his alma mater by flirting with Cycle on this CMU night.

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00:00Welcome and thank you for joining me today.

00:04Zach McKinstry stepped up to the plate at Comerica Park during his All-Star season,

00:08usually with Creed's What If as his walk-up song,

00:11but on Friday night as he prepared for his first at-bat,

00:14the Central Michigan University fight song echoed through the stadium.

00:18I texted Carlos, Guillain, Tigers broadcaster and manager of Spanish Communications,

00:24to make sure they played it for my first at-bat,

00:26and then switch back to my usual walk-up song for the next one,

00:30McKinstry shared.

00:31I thought it was great to do it just once,

00:33giving back and letting everyone know that I'm a Chippewa.

00:36By the end of McKinstry's performance,

00:38manager A.J. Hinch was playfully suggesting more alumni nights for Tigers players.

00:43A three-hit game, just a double short of the cycle,

00:45and two double plays against Royals All-Star Bobby Witt Jr. certainly helped,

00:50especially in a 7-5 comeback win that pushed Detroit's lead

00:54in the American League Central to ten and a half games.

00:57Hinch, with a grin, asked,

00:59What's next?

01:00He joked about celebrating Arizona State and giving some recognition to Torque,

01:05referring to Spencer Torkelson.

01:07Before McKinstry became an All-Star,

01:09he was known for his impressive batting skills as a shortstop at Central Michigan in 2015 and 2016.

01:15He never hit a home run there, though he managed a few in summer league play,

01:19finishing college with a .403 on-base percentage, higher than his slugging percentage.

01:24McKinstry recalled,

01:25I hit the top of the wall, and the ball bounced straight up.

01:29It stayed in play.

01:30That was my last regular season game at Central.

01:33That was the closest I got to hitting a home run there.

01:35I had a lot of line drives going the other way.

01:37The Dodgers saw his potential and drafted him in the 33rd round in 2016.

01:42He kept improving, hitting 19 home runs between high A and double A in 2019.

01:47His first major league homer was a game-tying inside-the-park shot at Coors Field.

01:52On Friday, inspired by his college fight song,

01:54McKinstry launched his 11th home run of the season.

01:57A powerful drive to right center off a 95-mph fastball,

02:02helping the Tigers rally after falling behind early.

02:04Manager A.J. Hinch commented,

02:07Responding to their three runs with a home run seemed straightforward,

02:11but we struggled to make solid contact early.

02:13Then Z-Max stepped up, which was a fantastic moment for him.

02:17McKinstry faced Bergerd again,

02:19lining a ball into the right-field corner in the fifth, though he didn't score.

02:23The next inning, Riley Green tied the game with his 30th home run of the season,

02:28a two-run shot.

02:30In the seventh, McKinstry led off with a single,

02:32then showed his instincts by advancing from first to third on a single and dashing home

02:37when a throw to third hit him and bounced away.

02:40I just kind of put my head down and I guess it worked in my favor.

02:43Safe by a head and head-butted that ball over to the dugout

02:46and was able to scramble into home plate, McKinstry said.

02:50It wasn't the usual call from third-base coach Joey Cora,

02:53but McKinstry trusted his gut.

02:55Hinch remarked,

02:56While it may not come as a surprise to anyone,

02:59it certainly should leave a lasting impression on all.

03:02McKinstry had a chance to complete the cycle, but flew out in the eighth.

03:05The Tigers secured their eighth win in nine games,

03:09with Kyle Finnegan earning his second win after inducing a double play from Bobby Witt Jr.,

03:14McKinstry's second double play of the night.

03:17It was an exhilarating evening, McKinstry said.

03:20I'm just grateful to have the chance to go out there and put on a performance.

03:23What was your favorite moment from this incredible game?

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