Field Level Media
Apr 16, 2019
Starling Marte hit a two-out, two-run homer in the 10th and the Pittsburgh Pirates topped the host Detroit Tigers 5-3 in the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday.
Marte's homer was his second this season. Jung Ho Kang also hit his second homer, a two-run shot in the fourth.
Pinch hitter Jason Martin led off the 10th with a single. Reliever Shane Greene retired the next two batters before Marte jumped on a slider and launched it over the left-center wall. Greene (0-1) hadn't allowed a run this season before Marte's long ball.
Keone Kela (1-0) picked up the win despite giving up a ninth-inning run. Nick Kingham recorded his first save by getting the last three outs.
Pirates starter Joe Musgrove held Detroit to two runs on six hits and struck out six in seven innings. The Tigers' Matthew Boyd also lasted seven innings and gave up three runs on six hits while striking out seven.
Christin Stewart and Jeimer Candelario each had two hits and an RBI for Detroit.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the second. Melky Cabrera rapped a one-out single and advanced to third on a single by Kang. Following a fielder's choice, Cabrera scored on Pablo Reyes' infield single.
Pittsburgh made it 3-0 in the fourth. Josh Bell led off with a single and, one out later, Kang homered over the left-field wall.
Detroit cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the inning. Miguel Cabrera blasted a one-out double and moved to third on Niko Goodrum's single. A passed ball by catcher Francisco Cervelli brought in Cabrera. Goodrum scored on Stewart's double. Candelario followed with a single but Musgrove struck out the next two batters.
The Pirates had runners in scoring position with one out in the fifth. Boyd responded by recording consecutive strikeouts.
Detroit tied it off Kela in the ninth. Stewart doubled off the wall on an 0-2 pitch to lead off the inning. Candelario then ripped a single to right, bringing in pinch runner Dustin Peterson.
--Field Level Media