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Tigers Carry Momentum into Brief Home Series with Pirates
The Detroit Tigers, fresh off their biggest offensive game of the season, are gearing up to host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a quick two-game series starting Tuesday. After a restful Memorial Day, the Tigers are aiming to extend their current three-game winning streak.
Tigers’ Thrilling Victory Over the Blue Jays
Sunday’s exhilarating 14-11 win against the Toronto Blue Jays marked the Tigers’ third consecutive victory. Despite blowing leads of 5-0 and 8-3, Detroit rallied, scoring the final five runs of the game. The hero of the day was Matt Vierling, who smashed a two-out, three-run homer in the ninth inning off Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano.
“There was a lot in that game to love and a few things not to love so much,” manager A.J. Hinch remarked. “But what an ending.”
Vierling, who racked up four hits during the game and hit another homer earlier, shared his thoughts on the game-winning homer, saying, “My brother and I in the backyard, we’d always be doing situations like that. It’s kind of cool when it actually happens.”
Tigers Seek to Hit .500
With a win on Tuesday, the Tigers can climb back to the .500 mark. Their current winning streak comes on the heels of a challenging five-game losing streak.
The Tigers are sending their ace, Tarik Skubal, to the mound. Skubal, boasting a 6-1 record and a 2.25 ERA, will look to bounce back from his first loss of the season. In his last start against Kansas City, Skubal allowed four runs over five innings, using 96 pitches to secure 15 outs.
“It was partly command and they had some really good at-bats,” Skubal explained. “They fouled off some really good pitches, and there were too many pitcher’s counts that went to 3-2 counts. And that’s a credit, I guess, to their hitters. I’ve got to do a better job at finishing those at-bats.”
Historically, Skubal has performed well against Pittsburgh, holding a 1-0 record with a 3.46 ERA in three career appearances.
Pirates’ Weekend Recap and Upcoming Starters
The Pirates recently won two out of three games in their weekend series against Atlanta but fell short in Sunday’s finale, losing 8-1. The game saw the early exits of starting pitcher Martin Perez and catcher Joey Bart due to injuries.
For the series against Detroit, Pittsburgh will rely on their young talents, Jared Jones and Paul Skenes, to take the mound.
Jones, a promising 22-year-old rookie with a 3-4 record and a 3.05 ERA, has pitched at least six innings in all his May starts. In his last outing against San Francisco, he allowed three runs and six hits over six innings, conceding a crucial two-run homer to Matt Chapman in the sixth inning, which contributed to an extra-innings loss for the Pirates.
“I threw the pitches I needed to throw when I needed to throw them,” Jones said. “Obviously, I need to get better at throwing certain pitches in tight spots where that could end up costing us the ballgame. I think that’s what happened. I don’t give up that home run to Chapman if I throw a better pitch, (and) we probably walk away with a win.”
Tuesday’s game will mark Jones’ first encounter with the Tigers.
Conclusion
The Detroit Tigers, riding high on a three-game winning streak and looking to reach .500, face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a two-game home series. With Tarik Skubal on the mound, the Tigers are set for an exciting matchup against the Pirates’ young pitching talents. Both teams are eager to maintain their momentum and secure crucial wins.
