The Pirates overcame lengthy rain delays in both games, and some sketchy umpiring in the fifth inning of the nightcap, to earn a split of a doubleheader in Detroit yesterday. The Tigers’ Tarik Skubal scuffled for five-and-two-thirds innings but held the Pirates’ offense at bay, while his teammates got to Andrew Heaney for seven runs over four innings in a 9-2 Detroit win.
The second game of the doubleheader was a different story. Joe Block has the recap.
Paul Skenes was not as sharp as he’s been lately, but he got no help from rookie home plate umpire Dexter Kelly, who missed three clear strike calls, leading to a two-run single in the fifth. Skenes took the blame for the rough inning.
Skenes was asked about missing out on going head-to-head with Tarik Skubal, which he would have liked.
The mood was ugly at Comerica Park as Tigers’ fans had two incidents with Pirates players. Pitcher Dennis Santana went after one fan whom he said went “over a line” from his seat above the Pirates’ bullpen. The fan, wearing a Pirates jersey and a Tigers cap, was ejected. And Tommy Pham got into a shouting match and had to be separated from a fan who used offensive language. Three Tigers fans were ejected for that incident.
The Pirates are back at PNC Park tonight to open another interleague series, and to face a former Cy Young Award winner for the second straight day. It’s the start of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers, who will send Jacob deGrom to the hill. He’s 6-2 with a 2.19 ERA. deGrom won the Cy Young in 2018 and 2019 with the Mets. The Pirates will use rookie Mike Burrows [1-1, 4.24 ERA]. Airtime is 6:15, first pitch at 6:40 on WCCS.
KONNOR GRIFFIN
2024 top draft pick Konnor Griffin had two more hits yesterday in a 3-2 Greensboro win over Greenville. Griffin has multiple hits in six of his nine games at High-A.
ALTOONA CURVE
Altoona got only two innings played before rain struck in a scheduled doubleheader against Richmond. The Curve will play the rest of that first game starting at five o’clock tonight, trailing 2-1, and then will play a seven-inning second game.
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