Pirates 7, Tigers 5: At least it was a day game

In what may have been Drew VerHagen’s last chance to show he deserved to be kept around, the Tigers fought tooth and nail with the Pirates in the final game of a two-game series (or four-game-two-city series if you count the two previous outings played in Pittsburgh).

It wasn’t a great outing for VerHagen, who gave up six runs in less than four innings of work with a final line of 3.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 1 K 79 pitches. Warwick “Aussie” Saupold came in and held the Pirates scoreless through the seventh inning.

Edward Mujica came in for the eighth and promptly gave up a home run to Sean Rodriguez in his first three pitches. Cool.

Fine early work from the Tigers fielders and offense weren’t able to catch up to the damage done early by VerHagen and then further dampened by Mujica’s early gaffe. It just wasn’t a great game, which was a shame after the fine offensive display put on last night.

The Tigers showed some hustle in the bottom of the ninth getting both Justin Upton an Nick Castellanos on base, and forcing the Pirates closer Felipe Rivero into the game. Victor Martinez then got an RBI double, making it a lot closer than the Pirates would like. Alas, the Tigers were unable to capitalize on the late-inning success, and John Hicks, coming in to pinch hit, was the final strike out of the game. Pirates win 7-5.

ROARS:

Mikie Mahtook started out with a single in the first, then came back to hit his seventh home run of the season in the third. His line going into this game was .291/.342/.787 and he’s now up to seven home runs for the season.

Jose Iglesias absolutely robbed a Josh Bell hit, which was good because Bell owned the Tigers this afternoon, with both a home run and a single.

Victor Martinez for the late-game glimpse of hope.

HISSES:

Drew VerHagen, obviously, who had a rough outing, and will most likely be Toledo-bound when Michael Fulmer returns.

STREAKS & INFO:

Nicholas Castellanos hit his ninth triple of the season, giving him the AL lead for triples.

There were a lot of reviews in this game. Four to be exact, two from the Tigers and two from the Pirates. Three of four were overturned.