DETROIT -- Don¡¯t ask JaCoby Jones how he makes these catches. It¡¯s difficult for him to explain how to soar high enough to get his entire arm over Comerica Park¡¯s left-field fence.

It¡¯s easier for him to describe the feeling when he gets back down with the ball in his glove, as he did Saturday with Nationals rookie Victor Robles¡¯ third-inning drive during the Tigers' 7-5 victory.

¡°It's kind of like hitting a home run in a clutch situation,¡± Jones said. ¡°It's actually kinda better, honestly, just to get everybody hyped. It just gets the energy going and gets the crowd into it. It's just a fun moment when you make a play like that.¡±

Robles¡¯ 385-foot drive had just a .310 expected batting average, according to Statcast. However, it would¡¯ve been gone in 13 of 30 Major League ballparks. Comerica Park likely would have been one of them if Jones weren't back in center field Saturday, having missed Friday¡¯s game after fouling a ball off his foot.

¡°You could kinda see it developing. The ballpark is so big,¡± Tigers bench coach Steve Liddle said. ¡°He just kept running, and he timed it perfectly.¡±

Jones seemingly had a play at the fence in his mind from the moment he saw the ball off the bat, retreating on it slowly to set up a step into the padding on the fence so he could reach over.

¡°I was playing back because I knew the wind was blowing out today,¡± Jones said. ¡°The ball was carrying well. I knew once he hit it, I had a chance. Once I got close to the wall, it was going to be one of those plays where I had to jump, but it's one of those things you just do when you get close to the wall.

¡°I don't know how to explain it. I knew I had to go up and get it, put my foot on the wall. I couldn't jump up that high over the wall. I knew it was going to be a tough play. I just put my foot on the wall and jumped in the air.¡±

The fact that he could do so on a part of the fence that¡¯s completely covered in padding made a big difference. There, he could dig in his spikes and elevate. With an uncovered fence, it¡¯s almost impossible.

¡°You put your foot in it, and the spikes dig into the wall,¡± he said. ¡°The padding's huge.¡±

Jones led Major League outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved last year, but has fallen off the pace this season. Saturday¡¯s catch saved an actual run for starter Gregory Soto, one of two such catches behind the rookie left-hander. Nicholas Castellanos made a mad dash into the gap in right-center to take a two-run double away from Howie Kendrick in the first.