The Pittsburgh Pirates are now 3-0 on the road in Interleague play this season however, it took way longer than they bargained for. A Neil Walker double in the 14th inning proved to be the game-winning run as Josh Harrison scored from second base to give the Pirates a 5-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
“ [Tom] Gorzelanny’s throwing sinkers and living on the outer half and I was just trying to fight him and drive the ball,” Walker said. “Fortunately he left a pitch up in the zone.”
The Pirates won despite stranding a season-high 19 runners.
While the Pirates won, they nearly blew an opportunity prior to the Walker hit when Gorkys Hernandez failed to touch second base.
“It’s one of those weird plays,” Harrison said. “Originally I thought he touched second going to third and when he was going back I didn’t think he touched it so I thought we were good. Once I saw the replay I knew it would be overturned.”
Pinch-hitter Josh Harrison hit a ball that Rajai Davis trapped and in confusion Hernandez backtracked on the base paths. Pitcher Tom Gorzelanny [1-2] stepped off the mound and threw to second base to get the out call.
“I didn’t think we’d get away with it,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s something that when it happens nobody likes being a part of it.”
Deolis Guerra [1-0] pitched for the third time in four days and earned his first career major league victory. He had to pitch three innings to earn the win.
“Unbelievable, amazing,” said Guerra. “It’s a moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life and it finally came true.”
Tigers started Justin Verlander struggled with his control in a 28-pitch first inning. The Pirates had a single and three walks in the inning, however were unable to capitalize and were shut out in the inning.
The Pirates did all of their scoring in the second and third innings.
In the second inning, Jordy Mercer singled and Chris Stewart recorded his seventh double of the season, putting both runners in scoring position. The next batter, Gregory Polanco hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Mercer.
A two-run third inning concluded the Pirates scoring. Starling Marte led off the inning with a hard hit bunt single, the second Pirates bunt base hit of the season. He advanced to third base on a Pedro Alvarez double that hit off the right field wall. Cervelli batted a run in with a Miguel Cabrera error on a ball that short hopped the Tigers first baseman. Alvarez scored on a Mercer sacrifice fly.
While Verlander struggled with his control — he had five walks, 103 pitches in 6-plus innings– Cole controlled his pitches and minimized the damage when he was in jams.
His first test came in the fifth inning when J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos each singled. James McCann hit a ball to deep right field that Tigers manager Brad Ausmus challenged was a home run. The hit ended up being a double with fan interference. A home run would have tied the game. All of this came with no outs, however Cole settled down and retired the next three hitters.
Cole allowed two base runners in the sixth inning, however he struck out the side. McCann struck for his second hit of the night in the seventh inning. He advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt and Ian Kinsler recorded his first hit in 10 at-bats against Cole with an RBI double cutting the deficit to one run. Jared Hughes came into the game and recorded the final out, getting Cabrera to ground out to Mercer.
In the top of the eighth, the Tigers used three pitchers in Al Alburquerque, Blaine Hardy and Joba Chamberlain. Stewart hit a one-out single, good for his sixth multi-hit game of the season. He would score when Andrew McCutchen singled past Castellanos at third base.
Tony Watson pitched the bottom of the eighth and allowed J.D. Martinez’s 20th home run of the season, a two-run shot that tied the game. Watson entered the game having allowed three runs in his last 28.1 innings of work.
With Arquimedes Caminero pitching in the ninth inning, Anthony Gose singled with one out and stole second base after Kinsler struck out. The Pirates elected to walk Cabrera, bringing Victor Martinez to the plate. Martinez flew out to left field.
The series continues Wednesday when A.J. Burnett [6-3 2.01 ERA] takes on Alfredo Simon [7-4 3.57 ERA]. Burnett is 6-3 with a 4.81 ERA in 12 career starts against the Tigers.
He said it:
“We had run out of pitching. Roll the dice, throw it out there.” – Hurdle on why he used a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner in the 14th inning.
Photo credit: Leon Halip/Getty Images
