The Detroit Tigers got absolutely stifled at PNC Park last night, falling 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates and watching their record slip to a frustrating 61-65. It felt like they barely had a pulse against Pittsburgh’s right-hander Braxton Ashcroft, who absolutely dominated for eight innings, allowing just one run.
Ashcroft Was Unhittable, Tigers’ Bats Go Silent
Ashcroft wasn’t just good, he was the most dominant player on that field, plain and simple. He was coming off an 85-pitch complete game against the Marlins where he allowed only a run and three hits with 10 strikeouts, so we knew he was hot. But the Tigers still only managed five hits off him, struggling against his nasty 97.6 mph sinkers and 98 mph four-seamers. He mixed in just enough curveballs and sliders to keep everyone off balance, inducing a ridiculous 12 ground ball outs.
The only bright spot for the Tigers was rookie Brett Callahan smashing his first big-league home run. This kid had only hit one homer in 151 plate appearances at Triple-A Toledo, so seeing him drive a 97.8 mph fastball 393 feet into the seats in right, off the bat at 110 mph, in just his eighth big-league plate appearance? That’s a highlight. Too bad it was the only run they could muster against Ashcroft.
Montero’s Perfect Start Crumbles in the Fifth
It was another one of those volatile outings for a Tigers starter, echoing Framber Valdez’s rough sixth inning from Monday. Keider Montero was absolutely dealing for the first four innings, setting down 12 straight Pirates in just 41 pitches, inducing eight ground ball outs. He looked completely in control of every single at-bat, and you thought, “Here we go, a dominant performance!”
Then the fifth inning happened, and it completely blew up. It took Montero 37 pitches and eight hitters to finally get three outs, and by then, three runs were on the board. Oneil Cruz, back off the injured list, absolutely punished Montero for a 422-foot homer that flew into left-center, coming off the bat at 107 mph after two straight knuckle-curves. Jake Magnum dropped a bunt single, and Rafael Flores, Jr. doubled. Then Jared Triolo hit a ground ball to Kevin McGonigle at third, and the throw home eluded catcher Eduardo Valencia. Magnum slid past the plate without touching it, initially called safe! But the Tigers were alert, challenged it, and replay showed Valencia retrieved the ball and tagged Magnum before he ever touched home plate. What a heads-up play by Valencia! Still, Montero couldn’t close the door, giving up a two-out, two-strike RBI single to Spencer Horwitz to make it 3-1. The Pirates then tacked on a fourth run in the eighth with a two-out RBI single by Bryan Reynolds off lefty reliever Enmanuel De Jesus.
At 61-65, this team is fighting an uphill battle. Montero’s collapse in the fifth after such a dominant start just encapsulates the kind of frustrating season it’s been for the Tigers. They need to find some consistency if they’re going to turn things around and salvage this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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