Keider Montero looked locked in for four innings, and then the game turned on him in a hurry.
The Tigers fell 4-1 to the Pirates on Tuesday night in a game that took only two hours, with Pittsburgh using a big fifth inning and another run in the eighth to even the series. Detroit had been hoping to back up Monday’s win and lock up the set, but the offense never found a rhythm against Braxton Ashcraft and the Pirates’ staff.
For most of the night, Montero had the upper hand. The Tigers opened the game with a quick 1-2-3 inning, and Pittsburgh answered in kind.
The second and third innings followed the same pattern, with both teams repeatedly going down in order. Through four innings, it looked every bit like a classic pitchers’ duel.
Detroit finally put a runner on in the fourth when Kevin McGonigle singled with one out. Colt Keith followed with another single, but Eduardo Valencia grounded into a double play to end the threat. Montero kept cruising through that point, sending the Pirates back down in order again.
Then the fifth inning changed everything.
Rookie Brett Callahan added another highlight to his week with his first MLB home run, and that moment was followed by the real damage from Pittsburgh. Esmerlyn Valdez drew the first Pirates baserunner with a walk, and Oneil Cruz, back from the IL yesterday, made an immediate impact with a two-run homer.
Jake Mangum singled after that, Rafael Flores Jr. doubled on the ground-rule, and the Pirates kept pressuring Montero. Detroit caught a break when Mangum was initially ruled safe on a play at the plate, but the Tigers challenged and the call was overturned because Mangum never touched home.
Jared Triolo reached safely at first, Spencer Horowitz singled in another run, and Montero finally escaped the inning after the damage was done.
By then, the Tigers’ starter had gone from dominant to vulnerable. Montero finished with 5.0 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts and 1 home run allowed on 78 pitches. Ty Madden took over in the sixth and retired the side in order.
Detroit had a small opening in the sixth when Gleyber Torres reached on a fielding error at first, the ball slipping over Horowitz’s glove and into right field. But the Tigers couldn’t do anything with it, and the inning faded away.
The offense also stayed quiet late. Callahan led off the eighth with a single, but the next three batters were retired.
In the bottom half, Triolo singled and forced Detroit back to the bullpen, with Enmanuel De Jesus coming in. Horowitz was hit by a pitch, Brandon Lowe grounded into a double play, and Bryan Reynolds singled home another run to make it 4-1.
Mason Montgomery handled the ninth for Pittsburgh, and McGonigle reached on a throwing error by the second baseman. That was as close as Detroit got to a rally. The comeback never came, and the Pirates walked away with the series tied.
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The shift has helped his hitting performance, and it has also offered a glimpse of why the Tigers are so encouraged by him. AJ Hinch has praised Clarks baseball intelligence and his ability to adapt, a combination that can make the difference for a young player trying to settle in against big-league arms while still learning what works best for him. [Read more 🡒]