The Detroit Tigers fell 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park on Wednesday in spring training play. Despite Riley Greene's 1-for-4 with an RBI effort at the plate, the Tigers could not pull even when it mattered. Casey Mize worked 4.0 innings on the mound, allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits. The Pirates out-hit the Tigers 8-5 on the day. The Tigers will look to regroup as spring training rolls on. There is still time to work through the rough patches before the regular season arrives, and the coaching staff will use today's performance as a learning opportunity.
Key Performers
Riley Greene was the offensive highlight at the plate, going 1-for-4 with an RBI. He put together quality at-bats throughout the game. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Tigers offense.
Trei Cruz also contributed, going 2-for-3, Spencer Torkelson chipped in, going 1-for-4, and Kevin McGonigle added to the attack, going 1-for-2. Despite the individual efforts, the offense could not generate enough sustained production.
On the other side of the diamond, Tyler Callihan led the Pirates offense with a 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Joey Bart also contributed, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Lonnie White Jr. added a 1-for-1 effort as well. The Pirates offense proved to be too much for the Tigers pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Casey Mize took the loss after grinding through his innings, working 4.0 innings while allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits with six strikeouts. He threw 82 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen was outstanding, combining for 3.3 scoreless innings while striking out four. The relief corps kept the game within reach after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Carson Fulmer recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Brant Hurter stood out with 1.2 innings of scoreless work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Pirates got on the board first with two runs in the second inning. Pirates plated a run in the fourth. The Tigers answered with a run in the fifth. Pirates out-hit the Tigers 8-5, with 3 errors committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 6,975 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Tigers will regroup and get back to work in their next outing. While the final score was not in their favor, the exhibition season is about building toward the regular season, and this game provided useful reps for a roster still taking shape. The coaching staff will review the performance and make adjustments before the next time out.
