Pirates 10, Tigers 1
Neil Walker homered, doubled and drove in five runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates cruised to a 10-1 win over the visiting Detroit Tigers in interleague action Friday.
With the score tied 1-1 in the sixth, Lyle Overbay hit a solo homer to center field off losing pitcher Brad Penny (4-4). Walker and Garrett Jones capped the six-run inning with consecutive two-run doubles off reliever Brayan Villarreal, and Walker added a three-run homer in the ninth as the Pirates (21-23) won their third straight game.
The offensive explosion made a winner out of Jeff Karstens (3-2), who allowed one run and three hits over six innings while striking out four. The veteran righthander ended a four-start winless streak while pitching into the sixth inning for the first time since April 28.
Penny was torched for five runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He also issued five free passes, equaling his combined walk total from his previous five starts.
Ramon Santiago's first home run of the season provided the lone offense for the TIgers (22-22), who have dropped four straight. Detroit has scored just six runs in that span.