PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For the first time all month, it all came together for the Pirates on Wednesday afternoon in Detroit. Bucs win for the third time in May, 8-0 over the Tigers.
The catalyst was veteran starter Rich Hill, who has been as inconsistent at times as the offense. In his last start, Hill didn’t have good control and was pulled after just 3.2 innings-throwing 75 pitches, only 48 were strikes.
Against Detroit he was masterful, six innings of one-hit ball with seven strikeouts. He allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, what ended up being the only Tigers hit of the game, and then struck out Andy Ibanez, Javier Baez and Spencer Torkelson. Hill started the second inning with a pair of strikeouts and then outraced Miguel Cabrera to first to end the inning.
On offense, finally that day Bucs Manager Derek Shelton had been waiting for-getting hits up and down the lineup. Eight in the lineup had hits, five had multiple hit days. Bryan Reynolds led with three hits. Austin Hedges led with 3 RBI, which nearly doubled his season total. Rodolfo Castro homered and drove in a pair. Connor Joe had his first multi-hit day since May 2 and Andrew McCutchen had his second multi-hit day since April 19.
It was the Pirates first win not started by Mitch Keller since April 29 and the most runs scored since that day. The Bucs are home for six against Arizona and then Texas starting on Friday night at 6:35 on 93.7 The Fan.