Pirates at Tigers (Game 2)
The real winner of the season-opening series between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers is Mother Nature, with inclement weather Saturday forcing a second postponement in two days and resulting in a split doubleheader Sunday in Detroit. The two teams may have needed the rainout to recover from a wild opening day Friday (following a Thursday rainout), a game the Tigers appeared to have won before a reversed call at home plate led to a 13-10 Pirates victory in 13 innings.
Detroit spent Friday evening and undoubtedly Saturday seething after Nicholas Castellanos was initially called safe in the bottom of the 10th with the game-winning run, only to have replay reverse the call, setting off an argument that resulted in Ron Gardenhire being ejected in his debut as Tigers manager. “We’ve had plenty of plays that need clear and conclusive evidence to overturn, and there was one angle that maybe looked like it could have gotten my sleeve, and let’s over turn the game and not let the Tigers win,” Castellanos told reporters afterward. Both teams had plenty of chances in the opener, however, as the Pirates blew a four-run, ninth-inning lead and Detroit relievers surrendered nine runs and 11 hits in seven innings. “We fight as a family,” Pittsburgh right fielder Gregory Polanco told the media after he finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs, three runs scored, and the go-ahead three-run homer in the 13th. “We’ve got to fight every pitch, every at-bat, every inning, and you see what happens.”
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet (Pittsburgh), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (2017: 8-11, 4.35 ERA) vs. Tigers TBD
Kuhl found a good rhythm after the All-Star break last season, posting a 3.63 ERA in his final 13 starts with 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings. The 25-year-old endured a difficult spring, however, surrendering five homers in 17 innings en route to posting a 10.06 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP in six appearances. Kuhl beat the Tigers in Detroit on Aug. 8 last season, allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in six innings.
Detroit had yet to decide on whether Sunday's original starter, left-hander Francisco Liriano (6-7, 5.66 ERA last season), would start the nightcap or if lefty Matthew Boyd (6-11, 5.27 ERA a season ago) would get the nod. The 34-year-old Liriano, who pitched exclusively out of the bullpen with Houston after being acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline last season, looked sharp in spring training while posting a 2.25 ERA and limiting opponents to a .214 batting average in 16 innings. The 27-year-old Boyd made seven starts in spring training, finishing 4-0 with a 3.42 ERA, and struck out 26 against just seven walks in 23 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The two teams combined for 23 runs, 31 hits and five errors in Friday’s opener.
2. Pittsburgh OF Starling Marte is hitting .335 in interleague play since the start of 2014, the highest average by any National League player.
3. The Tigers did not hit a homer in Friday’s marathon game, but seven of their 14 hits were doubles.