On a sunny Saturday at LeCOM Park in Bradenton, Florida, the Detroit Tigers claimed a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a final score of 6-4. This win adds to their impressive Grapefruit League record, bringing it to 15 wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie.
Tarik Skubal, the Tigers’ chosen pitcher for Opening Day, took the mound for his third start of the spring. He faced off against Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ top pitcher, in a battle of Opening Day starters. Skubal pitched against a lineup that included Pirates’ key players like Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds, and Ke’Bryan Hayes.
This game marked the first time Skubal encountered challenges on the mound this spring. In the first inning, the Pirates’ top hitters scored two runs against him. By the fourth inning, Skubal had allowed a total of three runs. Despite this, it was his first time giving up any runs during his Spring Training starts. Over four innings, he surrendered three runs, eight hits, and one walk, while striking out five batters.
The game started with McCutchen hitting a single, followed by Skubal striking out Reynolds with a curveball. Hayes then doubled off a changeup, putting two runners in scoring position. Henry Davis drove them in with a double. Skubal ended the inning by getting two quick outs with his fastball and slider.
The third and fourth innings tested Skubal further, as he faced bases loaded with no outs in the third. However, he managed to escape without any damage, thanks to a series of strikeouts and a groundout. A fielding error in the fourth allowed another run to score before Skubal completed his outing.
The Tigers fought back in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to regain the lead. This surge was powered by home runs from Justyn-Henry Malloy and Eddys Leonard. Leonard, who has been assigned to minor-league camp, contributed two more RBIs. The Tigers’ bullpen then held the Pirates to just one run in the remaining five innings, securing the win.
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Skubal’s performance included 73 pitches, 52 of which were strikes, marking his longest start in terms of pitches this spring. Despite facing challenges against the Pirates, he managed to navigate through the lineup effectively.
After overcoming a tough first inning, Skubal quickly moved through the second inning in just 12 pitches. The third inning saw him in a tight spot again, but he managed to keep the Pirates from scoring.
In terms of pitching, Skubal used a mix of fastballs, changeups, sinkers, sliders, and curveballs. He generated 13 swings and misses, with his fastball averaging 96.6 mph.
On the offensive side, Malloy and Leonard were instrumental in the Tigers’ comeback, with Leonard nearly hitting for the cycle. Other Tigers, including Vierling, Urshela, and Rogers, also had multi-hit games, contributing to the team’s victory.
From the bullpen, Alex Faedo and Joey Wentz put in strong performances, with Wentz giving up just one hit and one run over his innings. Will Vest closed the game in the ninth, securing the save.
The standout players of the game were Leonard, Malloy, and Wentz, each making significant contributions to the Tigers’ win.
Looking ahead, the Tigers are set to face the Baltimore Orioles in Lakeland on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.