Pittsburgh Erupts for Six in the Sixth: Not Enough to Escape Tie with Detroit
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers put on a show at LECOM Park today, with the game ending in an 8-8 tie. Despite a six-run explosion in the sixth inning, Pittsburgh couldn’t hold off a late push by Detroit, which scored the game-tying run in the ninth. The Pirates showed plenty of offensive firepower, led by Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales, but struggled with pitching consistency, particularly from free agent acquisition, starter Andrew Heaney, who allowed four runs in just four innings. While it wasn't the victory Pittsburgh was looking for after Thursday’s 15-3 defeat, there were still promising signs for the Bucs as they continue preparing for the regular season.
The Pirates’ offense came alive in the sixth inning, turning a 3-0 deficit into an 8-3 lead. Cruz had a key RBI, while Gonzales drove in two runs, bringing his spring RBI total to 13. Blake Sabol and Matt Gorski also contributed to the scoring outburst, demonstrating the potential of Gorski in Pittsburgh’s lineup come April. However, the Pirates failed to add insurance runs in the ninth inning, leaving six runners in scoring position down the stretch. On the basepaths, Pittsburgh was aggressive, swiping four bases, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ji Hwan Bae each recording steals. The offensive output was a positive sign, but missed opportunities to extend the lead proved to be the deciding factor.
Pitching was a mixed bag for the Pirates, with Heaney struggling early, walking two alongside his aforementioned four runs and four strikeouts. The bullpen initially held steady, with Colin Holderman and Caleb Ferguson each delivering scoreless outings, but struggles from Peter Strzelecki and Ryan Borucki allowed Detroit to claw back into the game. Borucki gave up the game-tying run in the ninth, preventing the Pirates from securing the win. Defensively, errors by Jared Triolo and Nick Yorke and two passed balls by catcher Endy Rodríguez didn’t help matters either. This, however, was far from the worst way to bounce back. The Pirates flashed some offensive potential and their ability to battle back after the slow start, bode well going into the weekend with Opening Day fast approaching.
