PITTSBURGH – Sometimes a game looks like it’s headed one way and then heads another in an instant, which is what happened to the Detroit Tigers in their 4-1 loss to the Pirates Tuesday, Aug. 18, at PNC Park.
Keider Montero had a perfect game going for a while and then lost his ability to throw strikes. But then the Tigers starting pitcher only gave up three runs in five innings, and wasn’t the only reason they lost.
They couldn’t hit. Or even manufacture many chances. Not more than one, anyway, as Braxton Ashcraft stymied the Tigers for eight innings, giving up only five hits that felt like even less.
One was to rookie outfielder Brett Callahan, who is the latest in a recent string of call-ups who’ve announced themselves loudly at the Major League level, and did so again Tuesday with a solo home run in the fifth.
Callahan’s blast gave the Tigers a lead that Montero relinquished in the bottom of the inning, and they never threatened again.
The Tigers (61-65) fell four games behind .500 and again will try to take the series in the rubber match Wednesday, Aug. 19 in an early 12:35 p.m. start.
At the plate
Gleyber Torres gave one a ride to lead off the fourth, but it was run down in the deepest part of the park. Kevin McGonigle hit a flare single and Colt Keith ripped one to center and it looked like the Tigers might be in business.
Then Valencia hit into the double play to end the threat.
The Tigers never really figured out Ashcraft, who left a few over the plate but used a mix of off-speed and high-heat to keep them off-balance. Callahan, who tripled in his MLB debut, hit his first home run, giving the Tigers a lead for about 15 seconds, and continuing his stellar rookie debut.
It’s been a theme this season for the Tigers, just as the inconsistency has.
On the mound
Montero was dotting the strike zone in the first four innings, not allowing a hit or even baserunner. To take the mound in the fifth and begin with five straight balls was certainly a turn of events.
And just like that, he lost his command, which led to him hanging a knuckle curve to Oneil Cruz on a 2-2 pitch which he happily blasted over the center field wall. This was seemingly a few minutes after Callahan had given the Tigers the lead.
Montero had a chance to hold Pittsburgh to two runs in the inning despite giving up a bunt single and ground-rule double that put runners at second and third with no outs after the home run.
Jake Magnum, who’d reached on the bunt single, tried to score from third when Jared Triolo grounded into a fielder’s choice at third. Kevin McGonigle threw home and while Valencia dropped the catch on the tag, Triolo missed home plate with his hand as he slid.
Valencia grabbed the loose ball and tagged Triolo before he could scurry back and touch the plate. Replays overturned the initial safe call. Montero couldn’t take advantage, and gave up a single to Spencer Horwitz, driving in Rafael Flores Jr., making it 3-1.
Montero threw 37 pitches in the inning after throwing only 41 in the first four innings. Ty Madden pitched two scoreless innings.
Up next
Paul Skenes, though that name isn’t quite as scary for batters as it has been that last couple seasons. Still, it’s Skenes, and while he’s lost a touch of velocity and hasn’t been the force he was a year ago, it’s fair to assume there is still good stuff in that arm.
The Tigers will counter with Jackson Jobe, who debuted after Tommy John surgery in San Francisco and looked like he hadn’t left but then struggled in his second start over the weekend at Comerica Park against the Chicago White Sox.
Jobe couldn’t command his off-speed stuff, and that’ll be something to watch for in his third start.
Contact Shawn Windsor: swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him @shawnwindsor.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers mystified at the plate in speedy 4-1 loss to Pirates