PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tarik Skubal pitched seven regular innings to win his fourth straight decision and Harold Castro hit a two-run single to lead the Detroit Tigers to a rain-delayed 5-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. evening.
After the start was pushed back more than two hours, Skubal (5-2) allowed three runs and six hits while striking out nine and walking one. The southpaw has worked a career-high seven innings in three straight outings and is 4-0 with a 1.60 ERA in his last seven starts.
Skubal, 25, became the Tigers’ ace after going 9-16 with a 4.57 ERA in 39 games – 36 starts – in his first two major league seasons.
“Tarik Skubal is obviously a big chunk to try to push this thing forward,” Detroit manager AJ Hinch said. “It speaks to our minor league people and our (player development) people.
“He’s learned some hard lessons over the last year and a half or so, but for a team that’s had a tough start to the season, on the day he kicks in every time, there’s a different feeling in the clubhouse. and it’s a signing from a guy who’s becoming a really good major league pitcher.
Castro’s hit, a one-liner down the middle, capped a fourth three-run that put the Tigers ahead 4-1. Announced rookie Spencer Torkelson drove in the first moto with a one-two.
Leading hitter Willi Castro, Javier Baez and Tucker Barnhart all had two hits, including doubles, for Detroit. Baez has raised his batting average to .205 as he struggles in the first season of a six-year, $140 million contract he signed as a free agent.
Gregory Soto threw a perfect ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances.
“Gregory’s exit was so quick I didn’t even see him,” said Skubal, who was in the clubhouse when Soto took the mound. “I went for a smoothie and it was over in eight lengths.”
Pittsburgh southpaw Jose Quintana (1-3) was rocked for four runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking one. He had a 1.73 ERA in his previous seven starts.
“He just didn’t have the execution on the fastball that we’ve seen from him, and the breaking stuff wasn’t as clean,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “(Against) a predominantly right-handed formation, he just left balls in the middle (of the plate) and they were able to field them.”
Pittsburgh rookie Cal Mitchell had two hits, one being a two-run homer to right field in the fourth that drew the Pirates to 4-3. It was only the second home run Skubal allowed to a left-handed hitter in his three-year career.
Barnhart’s RBI double in the eighth gave the Tigers a run for insurance.
Pirates’ Yu Chang doubled the first point in the second. An innings later, Jonathan Schoop tied the game with an RBI double.
Detroit snapped a three-game losing streak. Pittsburgh lost only the second time in seven games.
The start was delayed 2 hours and 5 minutes by rain.
“Long day at the stadium, but good to have a win,” Barnhart said.
DUAL SWITCH
Skubal was listed as a starting pitcher on the Tigers’ original roster card.
However, Hinch decided to switch to reliever Wily Peralta about 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. During the delay, the Tigers again changed their minds and returned to Skubal.
The thinking behind the initial move was for the rain to come around the third inning, Hinch didn’t want to have to potentially pull Skubal out of the game early. Once the start was delayed, the Tigers reverted to their original plan.
“It was interesting, but that’s what it is,” Skubal said. “I was already ready to pitch so (the change) didn’t really affect me at all.”
THE BEGINNINGS OF SWAGGERTY
Travis Swaggerty has become the seventh Pirates player to make his major league debut this season. Starting in center field, he went 0 for 3.
The Pirates’ 2018 first-round pick was recalled Sunday from Triple-A Indianapolis.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: 3B Jeimer Candelario (left shoulder subluxation) was placed on the 10-day disabled list and RF Austin Meadows (vertigo) was activated from IL. The Tigers hope Candelario will be ready for reinstatement on June 16, the first day he is eligible. … RHP Casey Mize (sprained right elbow) has been arrested after being unable to throw 90 feet and will seek further medical advice. The first overall pick in the 2018 Entry Draft has been out since April 15. … LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (strained left ribcage) will make a rehab debut Thursday for Triple-A Toledo. … RHP Matt Manning (right shoulder inflammation) was cleared to retake the pitch. … RHP Michael Pineda (fractured right middle finger) kicked a bullpen. … RHP Jose Cisnero (strained right shoulder) and OFs Robbie Grossman (strained neck) and Victor Reyes (strained left quadriceps) have started rehab assignments with Toledo.
Pirates: LHP Dillon Peters (lumbar strain) was placed on the 15-day IL and LHP Aaron Fletcher was recalled from Indianapolis. … Double-A Altoona C Henry Davis (fractured left wrist), the first selection in last year’s amateur draft, begins a rehab assignment in Florida’s rookie-level complex league.
NEXT
Tigers: RHP rookie Alex Faedo (1-2, 3.09 ERA) will start Wednesday in the two-game series finale. He has allowed two runs or less in each of his six career starts.
Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller (2-5, 5.77) returned to the rotation on May 31 after a brief stint in the bullpen and beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles.
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