'A hell of a year': Parker Meadows makes Tigers playoff history, can't wait to get back

CLEVELAND — Parker Meadows did it all this postseason.

He even made Tigers history.

Meadows, the second-year center fielder, laced a one-out double in the second inning of Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Saturday. That hit gave him a seven-game hitting streak to start his postseason career, which is tied for the longest such hitting streak in franchise history. Hall of Famer Charlie Gehringer, the "Mechanical Man," had a seven-game hitting streak during his major-league career in the 1930s.

It was tough to reflect on personal milestones after the game, a 7-3 loss that ended the Tigers' fairytale season. But Meadows was able to reflect on the season as a whole, which started rocky and ended with a flourish — for both Meadows and the team.

"It's cool," Meadows said. "Honestly, I couldn't have done that without all these guys in the clubhouse, just keeping it light, keeping it fun all year.

"It was a hell of a year. It was a fun year."

Meadows came into Saturday's game with a six-game hitting streak to start his playoff career, which was tied with Al Kaline, Mr. Tiger, for the second-longest streak in club history.

Meadows finished the postseason 7 for 26 with three walks, all of those walks coming in Saturday's game. He also had two stolen bases, including one after his double in Game 5, but he was stranded there.

The Tigers left 10 runners on base in Game 5, the final game of an unbelievable ride for Meadows, and the Tigers.

"We're gonna use this as a floor," said Meadows, 24, who also played Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field this season, with several highlight plays in the postseason. "I think expectations are now gonna be through the roof.

"A lot of guys got their feet wet in the playoffs, including me, and now that's all we're gonna want."

Including the playoffs, the Tigers were 58-31 in games in which Meadows played this season. He spent two months at Triple-A Toledo after an early May demotion, and after he returned in July, he became a 2.2 WAR player. Meadows homered in the two-game sweep of the Houston Astros in the wild-card round.

____