PITTSBURGH — Carmen Mlodzinski was knocked around and the Pirates couldn’t crawl out of an early deficit, falling 8-5 to the Tigers at PNC Park on Monday night.
Scoring Plays
Top 1st, 2-0 DET: The Tigers (61-64) plated a pair of runs off Carmen Mlodzinski (6-6) to begin the game. Zach McKinstry and Hao-Yu Lee delivered two-out RBI singles to give Detroit the early advantage.
Top 2nd, 4-0 DET: Kevin McGonigle hit a two-run home run to right-center with two outs. Mlodzinski grooved a cutter over the heart of the plate and the rookie third baseman did not miss it.
Top 5th, 5-0 DET: Following a Nick Gonzales error at second base, Max Clark singled home Lee against Isaac Mattson.
Bottom 5th, 5-1 DET: With two on and nobody out against Framber Valdez (8-8), Henry Davis looked to have bounced into a double play to short. But Lee delivered a poor throw to first base, allowing Jake Mangum to score from second on the error.
Top 6th, 8-1 DET: Yohan Ramírez issued three walks and allowed two hits in a three-run inning for the Tigers. Lee drew a walk with the bases loaded and Brett Callahan drove in a pair with a base hit to center.
Bottom 6th, 8-5 DET: Nick Yorke cleared the bases with a two-out double, which knocked Valdez out of the game. Yorke scored on a Henry Davis base hit up the middle off Kyle Finnegan as the Pirates (61-66) cut the deficit to three.
Key Moments
The Pirates twice brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning against left-hander Drew Sommers. With two on and one out, Brandon Lowe grounded out to third base. Rafael Flores Jr. struck out with runners on second and third to end the inning.
Player of the Game
Hao-Yu Lee set a career-high with three hits. He also drew two walks, drove in two runs and scored twice.
Stat to Know
Carmen Mlodzinski now has a 5.85 ERA in 12 starts this season, including a 14.14 ERA over his last three. He has a 2.15 ERA in 16 appearances out of the bullpen.
Notable Performances
- Carmen Mlodzinski: 3.0 innings, eight hits, four runs, one walk, three strikeouts, 59 pitches/42 strikes
- Yohan Ramírez: 1.0 inning, two hits, three runs, three walks, 44 pitches/27 strikes
- Nick Yorke: 2 for 4, one double, three RBI
- Nick Gonzales: 1 for 2, one double, two walks, one run
- Brandon Lowe: 2 for 4
Noteworthy
- Monday’s game was broadcast on ESPN, marking the Pirates’ first game in Pittsburgh aired on the station since Aug. 7, 2019 vs. Milwaukee.
- Brandon Lowe extended his hitting streak to six games.
- Nick Yorke drove in three runs for the second straight game.
- The Pirates reinstated OF Oneil Cruz from the 60-day injured list and RHP Yohan Ramírez from the paternity list. OF Ronny Simon and LHP Hunter Barco were optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. OF Johnathan Rodríguez was designated for assignment.
Up Next
RHP Braxton Ashcraft (12-5, 3.88 ERA) will take the mound for the first time since throwing a complete game in his last outing. RHP Keider Montero (9-7, 3.22 ERA) gets the ball for Detroit. First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.
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