Austin Jackson paced the Tigers offensive attack with two bombs among his four hits. Prince Fielder smacked three hits, while three other Tigers delivered multi-hit games. Justin Verlander proved solid on the mound for the home team, pitching seven shutout innings after a rocky 1st. Verlander finished the day with 10 strikeouts. Andrew McCutchen picked up two hits and scored two of the Pirates three runs. Brad Lincoln took the loss for the Pirates.
Game 2: Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 0
AJ Burnett tossed eight and a third scoreless innings to lead the Pirates to victory. Burnett struck out six Tigers, while only walking one. Joel Hanrahan shut the door in the ninth, dusting off both batters he faced. Neil Walker’s second inning homer off Detroit starter Max Scherzer proved to be all the offense the visitor’s would need. Scherzer fanned nine in a losing cause, but couldn’t escape the 6th. Andy Dirks delivered three hits in the loss.
Both starters looked shaky, with Tigers hurler Doug Fister lasting only five, while the Pirates James McDonald pitched only three innings. Back to back homers from Neal Walker and Michael McKenry in the 2nd put the Pirates in the lead. Detroit stormed back in the top of the 3rd, as three walks contributed to a three run inning. The Tigers picked up another run in the 4th before the home squad saw McKenry hit another homer – this time with two men on base – to regain the lead. Trailing by one in the 9th, Andy Dirks tripled off Joel Hanrahan, scoring two runs and putting Detroit in the lead. Jose Valverde slammed the door in the 9th, to give Detroit a 2-1 series lead. Joaquin Benoit got credit for the victory after pitching a scoreless 8th.
Game 4: Detroit 9, Pittsburgh 4 (14 innings)
Elevated pitch counts pushed both starters, Anibal Sanchez, and Wandy Rodriguez, from the game prior the conclusion of the 6th inning. Each team delivered three innings of singular runs, sending the game into OT. The 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th innings passed with no runs, but lots of relief pitchers plying their trade. The Tigers busted the game open in the 14th, putting up a six-spot capped by an Alex Avila pinch hit three run homer, to put the game out of reach or Pittsburgh. Starling Marte finished the night 5 for 7 in a losing cause. Another Marte, Luis, earned the win for Detroit, with Jeff Karstens taking the loss.
--submitted by Matt Dickendesher--
No comments:
Post a Comment