After an off day on Monday, the Pittsburgh Pirates were back in action Tuesday night as they welcomed the Detroit Tigers to PNC Park for a short two game series. These two teams split a two-game series at Comerica Park early in May, and now Pittsburgh will look to do that again after dropping game one by the final of 5-3.
This game had a two-hour delay because of the weather, but that didn’t stop the Pirates offense from getting an early lead in the second inning. Yu Chang collected an RBI with a double to right. That lead was short lived as Detroit tied the game with a Jonathan Schoop double to left center field in the third. The Tigers then took the lead for good in the fourth. Spencer Torkelson doubled home Javier Baez. Then Haraold Castro singled home two more runs.
All four of those runs were charged to Jose Quintana. He would only last 3.1 innings giving up seven hits to go with one walk and five strikeouts. Detroit starter Tarik Skubal pitched seven innings allowing three runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. Those other two runs given up by Skubal came in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Cal Mitchell.
The Tigers plated an insurance run in the eighth when Tucker Barnhart doubled to right center. That run probably would have been avoided, but Mitchell misread the ball and missed catching it on a diving attempt. Detroit had multiple chances to break this game open, but a pair of base running errors at second base kept this game close.
Pittsburgh will now turn to Mitch Keller on Wednesday afternoon to no only even this series, but tie the season series at two games apiece. Keller has not been great this season, but has shown glimpses of being the pitcher we all hope he can be. The Tigers will counter with Alex Faedo. Game time is set for 12:35pm.
Record vs. Tigers: 1-2
Record vs. American League: 1-2
Record at Home: 13-16
Overall Record: 24-29
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
