PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In a game dominated by defense, the Pirates outlasted the Tigers Tuesday night 4-1 to set up an all-important rubber match Wednesday afternoon. Oneil Cruz made his return to the lineup and provided a spark for the Bucs in the fifth inning with a homer, while Braxton Ashcraft nearly recorded his second straight complete game.
Another Ashcraft Gem
In his fourth start of what’s been a month to remember for Ashcraft, he turned in yet another dominant outing. After putting together the first complete game by a Pirates pitcher this season last time out, he somehow almost replicated that performance Tuesday.
Ashcraft didn’t allow any Tigers to reach base until a Kevin McGonigle single finally broke his shutout bid in the fourth. Of course, Ashcraft then went on to force an inning-ending double play moments later. Besides surrendering a homer at the top of the fifth — which turned out to be Detroit’s only run of the contest — Ashcraft kept the Tigers in check with his deep arsenal of pitches.
With the Pirates up 4-1 at the start of the ninth inning, manager Don Kelly made the tough decision to have closer Mason Montgomery finish the game out of the bullpen. According to Kelly, Ashcraft ‘wanted to go’, but was told not to because he was ‘already well past his innings limit’.
In 8.0 innings of work, Ashcraft finished with a final line of 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB and 4 Ks. He’s now surrendered just two earned runs over his last 17 innings on the bump, and six through 27 innings (four starts) in August.
Bucs spoil Montero’s perfect game
Like Ashcraft, Detroit starter Keider Montero was enjoying a strong start on the mound through four innings. With no hits to his name yet heading into the fifth, a complete game shutout was still very much in play for the 26-year-old righty. But the Pirates had other plans.
Starting with a leadoff walk of Esmerlyn Valdez, everything suddenly came undone for Montero.
On the next at-bat, Montero made the mistake of offering Cruz a knuckle curve in the bottom of the zone, which was hammered over the center field wall to put the Bucs ahead 2-1. Jake Mangum then singled, Rafael Flores Jr. doubled, and then a Spencer Horwitz base hit grew Pittsburgh’s lead to 3-1. Just like that, a promising outing for Montero was blown completely off the rails in a single frame.
Welcome Back Cruz
The Pirates were hopeful that Cruz would make a huge impact when they brought him back into the lineup Tuesday, but they probably didn’t imagine it would come immediately. After all, he’d only registered one RBI during his six games in the minors between AAA and AA. But in his first major league game in over two months, Cruz didn’t look out of place in the slightest.
On just his second at-bat of the night, he clobbered a no-doubter into center field to propel the Bucs ahead 2-1 in the fifth, which ultimately proved to be the game-winning play.
Minors Results
- Triple-A Indianapolis fell 6-3 to Louisville at home.
- Double-A Altoona came up short in a close one, losing 4-3 to Binghamton on the road.
- High-A Greensboro downed Bowling Green 6-4, taking the lead for good by scoring four runs between the fifth and sixth innings.
- Single-A Bradenton came out on the winning side of a high-scoring slugfest, as it held on to beat Jupiter 13-12.
Up Next
After a long break for rest and recovery, RHP Paul Skenes (9-11, 3.88 ERA) will take the mound for the first time since August 11th as the Bucs finish their series with the Tigers Wednesday. LHP Jackson Jobe (1-1, 6.23 ERA) will take the bump opposite him for Detroit. Skenes turned in a solid outing last time out in Miami, racking up four strikeouts and only allowing one earned run through 5.0 innings pitched. Paul Alexander has the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 11:35pm with first pitch set for 12:35pm on KDKA AM.
