Pittsburgh walked the plank tonight.
While it wasn’t officially a celebration, it was Welcome Back, Don Kelly Day. It was also the start of a new series as the Tigers welcomed the Pittsburgh Pirates. More importantly, it was celebration day for Javy Báez reaching 10 years of service time, and he was ready to party. Casey Mize was on the mound for the Tigers, while the Pirates turned to Bailey Falter.
In the first, the Pirates went 1-2-3 against Mize. In the home half, the Tigers were likewise hitless, going down in order.
Spencer Horwitz kicked off the second with a single, then one out later he was able to get to third on what should have been a fielder’s choice with a fielding error by Baez that put men on the corners with Joey Bart safely at first. Adam Frazier grounded out, but they were able to score Horwitz. An unearned run for Mize, but still a bummer. Bryan Reynolds left the game and was replaced by Alexander Canario, and while there was some speculation about possible injuries, it turned out his wife had gone into labor. Congrats to the Reynolds family! Spencer Torkelson hit a double to start the home half, then Wenceel Perez hit a two-run homer.
Zach McKinstry singled, then one out later Javier Baez singled, but both runners would be left stranded.
In the top of the third Isiah Kiner-Falefa started the inning with a single. Then with one out, Andrew McCutchen doubled. Canario then singled to bring Kiner-Falefa and McCutchen home, giving the Pirates the lead. Canario got caught stealing by Dillon Dingler with an assist by Baez to help wrap up the inning.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the third.
The fourth was a three-up, three-down inning for the Pirates, and the same for the Tigers in the home half.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Oneil Cruz singled, but the Pirates weren’t able to bring him home. Javier Baez, on the day of his 10-year service anniversary, hit a solo home run to tie up the game. Gleyber Torres also walked in the inning, but they had to settle for the one run after a double play ended the inning.
In the sixth, Mize once again got the side out in order, and that was the end of the game for him. His final line was 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K on 92 pitches. A good night overall for him, considering we’ve seen some shaky command from him in a few of his past outings. Falter’s game was done after five, and Carmen Mlodzinski came on in the sixth. Riley Greene singled, then with one out, Perez tripled to bring Greene home, and giving the Tigers a lead once again. It was the only run for the Tigers in the inning, but it was a big one.
Chase Lee came out of the pen for the Tigers in the seventh and got the Pirates out in order. In the home half, Baez proved he wasn’t a one-home-run wonder and hit another to center field.
With two outs in the inning, Kerry Carpenter pinch-hit for Jahmai Jones and was hit by a pitch. Then Riley Greene came in and homered for two runs, and it was a towering blast that nearly carried the entire lower deck in right field. Spencer Torkelson walked, but he’d be left at first. The Tigers were up 7-3 at the end of seven.
Tommy Kahnle replaced Chase Lee in the top of the eighth and got three outs in a row. Chase Shugart came in for the Pirates. Zach McKinstry walked and was then eliminated in a double play off the bat of Dingler. A Baez strikeout ended the inning, all while we were reminded that Gene Lamont came out of retirement to work for Don Kelly.
Brenan Hanifee was on for the ninth, hoping to get the final three outs and he did just that as the Tigers opened the series with a win.