The Pittsburgh Pirates improved to 9-2 on the season with a 7-4 win over the Tigers at PNC Park. Mitch Keller returned to form throwing 6 innings giving up 2 runs while walking 3 and striking out 9. The bats also came back alive scoring 7 runs off of 11 hits, with Jack Suwinski and Andrew McCutchen having multiple hit nights.
The first began shakily for Keller and the Pirates. A pair of walks and strike outs began the game. Fortunately, the run scoring single by Colt Keith was only that as after a bobble by Bryan Reynolds in LF, he was able to throw out Spencer Torkelson as he advanced to 3B. In the bottom of the 2nd the Pirates were able to start their offensive answer. After acquiring a few base runners, Connor Joe was able to knock in one baserunner, after another single Joey Bart came to the plate. Bart once again delivered, this time in the form of a two run single making the game 3-1.
In the bottom of the 3rd Jared Triolo added a pair more on his own single. Detroit added one back in the top of the 4th on a Sac-Fly to make it 5-2. However, Joe had a RBI double in the bottom of the 5th. Then in the bottom of the 6th Reynolds hit his 2nd Home run of the season putting the Pirates ahead 7-2.
Josh Fleming pitched a clean 7th, however ran into some trouble in the 8th. An error on Oneil Cruz, a walk, and a few soft infield singles scored one and chased Fleming from the game. Fortunately, Aroldis Chapman came in and struck out both batters he faced to end the threat. In the top of the 9th Ryder Ryan came on to finish it off, after a quick out a single and a jarring double, made the score 7-4. The jarring came from a ball that was in Suwinski’s glove for a two count before a loud crash into the leftfield wall jarred the ball loose. Ryan was able to strike out the next batter and induce a groundout to end the threat.

The Pirates return to action tomorrow against the Tigers. The game will be at 12:35 PM at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA. Martin Perez will pitch for the Pirates with Casey Mize going for the Tigers.