Gerald Laird sets new high with six-game hitting streak

Tigers catcher Gerald Laird went 2-for-5 in Wednesday’s 12-inning loss to the Royals, extending his hitting streak to a career-high six games. The huge day, which included a double for his 11th extra-base hit in 237 at-bats this season, raised his average to .203. It’s the first time all season that he’s finished a game with an average over the Mendoza Line. Before this week, Laird had hit in five straight games just once before, that happening in May 2008. Once a reasonably productive catcher, Laird hit .296 and slugged .473 in 243 at-bats for the Rangers in 2006. Even two years ago, he came in at .276/.329/.398 in 344 at-bats for Texas. Laird, though, was pretty brutal in his first year as the Tigers’ starting catcher in 2009 and he fell completely off the map this year. At 537, he has the worst OPS of any major leaguer with at least 250 plate appearances this season.