Max Scherzer threw one of his best outings of the season striking out 14 Pirates over eight innings of work as the Tigers defeated the Bucs 5-2 on Thursday afternoon to earn a series split.
Scherzer and Pirates starter Francisco Liriano were locked in a pitchers duel through four innings before the Tigers (65-54) struck first in the fifth. J.D. Martinez sent a Liriano 1-1 slider over the left field fence. The homer was the first hit allowed by Liriano in the game.
Liriano experienced his only bit of trouble in the sixth when he allowed a bases loaded, one out situation. He then got Torii Hunter to strikeout swinging before walking Martinez to make it a 2-0 game. It would be the only damage done, however, as he struck out Nick Castellanos to end the inning.
Brandon Cumpton replaced Liriano working a 1-2-3 seventh. The eighth wouldn’t go the same way as Cumpton experienced some bad luck. With runners on first and second with two out, Martinez hit a ball into the hole at second base. Michael Martinez was able to field the ball, but threw it wide of Ike Davis at first allowing a run to score. Castellanos followed with a 2-RBI single to make it 5-0.
Those runs would come back to haunt the Pirates (64-57) as Gaby Sanchez put them on the board with a pinch-hit, two-run home run in the ninth.
Final Score: Tigers 5, Pirates 2.
Starters Lines
Liriano (L, 3-9): 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 9 K’s, 1 HR. 102 Pitches (59 Strikes).
Scherzer (W, 14-4): 8 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 14 K’s. 121 Pitches (81 Strikes).
The Pirates will now travel to Washington D.C. for a three-game set with the Nationals.
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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
