COMON Network

By COMON Network Team

Final Score – Detroit Tigers (6-5) 17, Pittsburgh Pirates (3-11) 13 – F/11

WP: Bryan Garcia (2-0) – 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K – 13 pitches, 10 strikes

LP: Dovydas Neverauskas (0-2) – 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K – 23 pitches, 15 strikes

SV: N/A

It was a high-scoring, extra-inning affair at PNC Park Friday night, as the Detroit Tigers took game one of the weekend series in 11 innings.

CJ Cron started the scoring with a home run in the 2nd. Erik Gonzalez started his monster night in the second, singling home a pair to make it 2-1. Gonzalez then crushed a two-run homer in the fourth, which made it 4-1. Austin Romine singled home a run in the fifth before three runs came in via bases-loaded walks, which gave Detroit a 5-4 lead. Phillip Evans hit a three-run shot in the home half to make it 7-5.

In the sixth, JaCoby Jones doubled home a run before three singles scored runs in the seventh an a double brought home a run to make it 12-7. Gonzalez doubled home a pair to make it 12-9 in the eighth before Evans singled home a run in the ninth. Adam Frazier’s two-run homer tied the game in the ninth.

Each team scored a run in the 10th. Detroit scored four in the 11th and the Pirates were shut down in the home half, as the contest ended at 17-13.

The two teams meet again tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. on FS1.

COMON Network Team Commentary

KYLE DAWSON

• If the first guy in the piggy back is throwing well, leave him in. Now, Steven Brault just didn’t have it tonight, but that shouldn’t have been tested when it was. Chad Kuhl looked excellent, and that’s the same argument as we made for Brault when he was perfect through three innings in Chicago. I just don’t understand why they feel the need to stick to the plan and not adjust based off results.
• Erik Gonzalez was AWESOME tonight. How about that for a shortstop’s day? Gonzalez was 4-for-5 with the homer and six total RBI. Nuts. The guy has been hitting the ball really hard for a while now. The homer was hit 106.7 miles per hour off the bat and went an estimated 443 feet. That ball was TATTOOED. He hit the double 101 mph off the bat. Good for E-Gon. Is that his nickname? Can we make it that?
• Bryan Reynolds had another three hits and Josh Bell had two. Seems those guys may be turning things around. Bell’s single in extras was a ROCKET. Evans drove in four as well. This was an impressive offensive night.
• Yacksel Rios was iffy and shockingly, and I mean that with an incredibly high amount of sarcasm, Miguel Del Pozo was really bad. At least he threw 26 strikes in 38 pitches. So there’s that, I guess. Dovydas’ 11th inning was rough, but at that point in the game, it is what it is, I suppose.

Player of the Game – Erik Gonzalez (PIT)

DONNY CHEDRICK

• Eyeball emoji at Erik Gonzalez. Six RBI and a triple shy of the cycle. The only reason why the Bucs had any chance Friday night. Let’s see if he keeps it going.
• The piggy back rule!!! Man, what a damn disaster. The Bucs misfired on this one — again. Solid start from Chad Kuhl. Steven Brault then did the opposite of what he did on Sunday in Chicago. He couldn’t find the strike out. He didn’t record an out. Maybe actually let these guys pitch more than a few innings if they look good instead of getting cute. I don’t know. I’m not a manager.
• The pitching was atrocious, but hey, the offense showed up. Guess ya can’t always get both. But another L.

Player of the Game – Erik Gonzalez (PIT)