Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Series Recap, AL Central Standings

Suwinski and Tellez would each reach base again in the third inning, and once again, they would score. This time, they were plated by infielder Jared Triolo. That gave the Pirates a 5-1 lead after three.

The Tigers got a little closer in the four with hits from Matt Vierling and Javier Baez set up Zach McKinstry to bring home a run. McKinstry collected an RBI with a sac fly that plated Vierling.

Andrew McCutchen started things off in the fifth with a double to lead off the inning, and he would score on a Connor Joe double to left-center field, extending the Pirates’ lead to 6-2.

A milestone was reached in Pittsburgh on Monday in the 6th inning. Bryan Reynolds hit his 100th career home run off of Olson to extend the Bucs’ lead to 7-2.

Wenceel Pérez‘s first MLB at-bat came in a pinch-hit role in the seventh inning as he replaced McKinstry. He lined out to begin his big-league career. It was the only appearance he made in the series.

The Tigers scored once in the eighth and once in the ninth before falling short 7-4 against a Pirates team that improved to 8-2 at the time. Vierling’s RBI single and Riley Greene’s RBI double were the last points of the game.

Game Two:

Former first-overall pick Casey Mize was on the mound Tuesday and faced veteran southpaw Martin Pérez in the series wrap-up.

The Tigers once again drew first blood in the first inning on Tuesday. Vierling led off the inning with a single, and Greene followed suit with a single of his own two at-bats later. Torkelson was set up with a good opportunity in the cleanup spot and delivered by driving in Vierling. Urshela grounded into a double play to put an end to an even bigger threat from the Tigers.

Mize got through the first inning with no issue but ran into Edward Olivares in the second inning. Olivares jumpstarted a big day for him with a leadoff home run to tie the game.

The game didn’t stay tied for long as the Pirates took the lead in the third inning. Reynolds doubled to lead off the bottom of the third and was brought home on a Ke’Bryan Hayes RBI single.

Riley Greene robbed Hayes of a home run in the 5th inning with a fantastic leaping catch in left field.

Both offenses stayed quiet until the sixth inning when Olivares went deep for his second home run of the game.

Olivares gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3-1 lead. Tyler Holton gave up his second home run of the series. That was the last run of the game before a wild ninth inning unfolded.

David Bednar, usually a reliable closer out of the pen, has a disastrous ninth inning. It all started when he walked Greene and hit Torkelson. Gio Urshela continued his strong start by driving in the tying runs with an RBI single. Greene scored naturally, but McKinstry (pinch runner for Torkelson) scored on a throwing error from Michael A. Taylor in center field.

Meadows pinch ran for Urshela and was the go-ahead run at second. Kerry Carpenter was the pinch hitter for Carson Kelly, and he drove home Meadows with an RBI single, giving the Tigers a 4-3 lead.

Baez was also hit by a pitch to move Carpenter into scoring position. Jake Rogers struggled throughout the game but made up for it in the ninth by getting the Tigers an insurance run with an RBI single that plated Carpenter.

A.J. Hinch called upon Jason Foley, who is having a career-year type of start to the season. He got himself into a bit of trouble in the ninth, but he ultimately survived, and the Tigers improved to 7-4 with a 5-3 win over the Pirates securing a series split.

AL Central Standings

1. Cleveland Guardians: 8-3
2. Detroit Tigers: 7-4
3. Kansas City Royals: 7-4
4. Minnesota Twins 3-6
5. Chicago White Sox 2-9