NEW YORK >> Remember the season-opener in Chicago? Jason Foley entered a 1-0 game in the bottom of the ninth and punched out Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert, Jr., pumping bowling ball sinkers at 101, 100.7 and 100.2 mph.

That’s part of the reason why Friday night, when Foley gave up four straight hits in the bottom on the ninth and the Tigers were walked-off by the Yankees and his velocity was down to 95, 96, 97 mph, it was, if not a concern, at least worth a question or two.

“I feel OK,” Foley said. “Ninety-five and above is certainly hard enough to get the job done in this league. It’s been more about a lack of execution.”

Velocity is not the end-all, be-all. That is absolutely true. But with Foley, whose bread and butter is that turbo sinker, velocity is a big element. And the fact is, he hasn’t thrown a sinker at 100 mph or harder since April 4, 11 straight outings.

At that point in the season, the average velocity on his sinker was over 98 mph. Since then, it’s dropped to just over 96 mph.

He didn’t allow a run in his first 11 outings. In his last four, he’s been touched for four runs in 2.2 innings. Not necessarily the cause and effect, but a contributing factor. Less velocity, less margin for location error.

Foley said that while he hasn’t experienced any fatigue in his arm, he has hunkered down with pitching coach Robin Lund to review his body and pitching mechanics.

“Robin showed me some mechanical deficiencies that I was going through,” Foley said. “We’re trying to work on that and address it. … Just something in my delivery, just a touch off.”

It’s early in that process, though. It’s been less than a week since Lund spotted the issue.

To manager AJ Hinch though, it’s not about Foley firing 100-mph sinkers consistently. It’s about sequencing and locating his pitches effectively.

“When pitchers reach a certain threshold, we automatically assume that’s their norm,” Hinch said. “And that’s not been Foley’s norm, ever. The effectiveness of his pitches at the velocity he’s pitching with right now is all about location still.

“I don’t assume when somebody does a rep or two or has an outing or two where the velocity spikes, that’s all of a sudden going to be their norm.

“Therefore, I’m not alarmed that it’s a little lower. Because it’s actually back to normal, where it’s always been.”

To that point, Foley threw 723 sinkers last year with an average velocity of 97 mph.

“We know what’s going on with our guys,” Hinch said. “We know if they’re feeling good or not. We know when they’re rested or not. Velo trends are part of it. But if we’re worried just because a guy throws 98-99 and falls to 96-97, we’re probably getting caught up too much in the minute details there.”

Pitch to Rizzo?

One last look back at the fatal ninth inning Friday.

Hinch came to the mound with the tying run already in, the winning run at third and with first base open. There were no outs and left-handed hitting Anthony Rizzo was coming up.

Right-handed hitter Gleyber Torres was on deck.

Hinch opted to move his infielders in, but not walk Rizzo. Here’s why:

“With no outs, they’re not going to run on contact (from third base),” Hinch said. “So the need for the force at home is zero. You can push it to Gleyber, but you still have to move the infield in and you’re still in duress. You have to go with the best option.

“Rizzo is going to touch the ball and get it in play. Which we knew. But with no stress of the runner going, there was no need of a force at home.”

Had Foley gotten Rizzo out, Hinch said he might’ve considered walking Torres to set up the force at home or a double-play with left-handed hitting Austin Wells coming up.

Rizzo didn’t let it get that far, slapping the game-winning single.