Tigers Walk Off Pirates 4-3, Erase Two-Run Deficit in Ninth

The Detroit Tigers erased a two-run deficit and walked off the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 in nine innings at Comerica Park on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Eduardo Valencia's two-run home run was the decisive blow, and Jacob Waguespack earned the win out of the bullpen as Detroit completed the comeback against Mason Montgomery, who allowed three runs in just two-thirds of an inning to take the loss. The one-run finish snapped what had been a Pittsburgh lead and kept the Comerica Park crowd on its feet through the final out.

Valencia's Two-Run Homer Is the Difference

Valencia went 1-for-5 on the night, but that one hit was the one that mattered most. His two-run shot off Montgomery swung the game entirely in Detroit's favor after the Tigers had been trailing by two runs. It was the kind of at-bat that defines a lineup's late-inning character — falling behind in the count or simply waiting for the right pitch and doing damage when it arrived.

Javier Báez added to the offensive output with a 2-for-4 night that included one RBI, giving Detroit another veteran presence that contributed when the lineup needed it. Hao-Yu Lee was also active at the plate, going 2-for-3 and helping Detroit sustain pressure against a Pittsburgh bullpen that ultimately cracked.

Verlander Gives Detroit Five-Plus Innings

Justin Verlander started for the Tigers and worked 5.1 innings, striking out six while allowing two earned runs on five hits and one walk. He kept Pittsburgh from pulling too far ahead, giving the bullpen a manageable situation to work with as the game moved into the middle innings.

Tyler Kinley and Brant Hurter bridged the gap after Verlander, with Hurter allowing one earned run in 1.2 innings. Waguespack then came on and delivered 1.1 innings of two-hit, scoreless baseball — striking out two — to earn the win after the Tigers put runs on the board behind him.

Pittsburgh's Offense Had Its Moments

The Pirates were not without their own highlights. Brandon Lowe went deep for Pittsburgh, going 1-for-4 with a solo home run and one RBI. Jacob Gonzalez also homered, going 1-for-2 with one RBI. Bryan Reynolds added a 2-for-4 effort with one RBI, and Konnor Griffin and Henry Davis each collected two hits, keeping Pittsburgh's offense competitive deep into the game.

But Montgomery's implosion in what became the decisive inning — three hits and three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning — erased the lead Pittsburgh had built and handed Detroit the opening it needed.

Turning Point: The Ninth-Inning Rally

The metadata is clear: Detroit came back from a two-run deficit and won on a walk-off. The ninth inning was the game. Pittsburgh turned to Montgomery to close it out, and he could not do it. Valencia's home run was the centerpiece, but the Tigers needed baserunners to set it up, and they delivered. It was the kind of inning that requires the whole lineup to execute, and on Saturday night, it did.

What's Next for the Tigers

Detroit will look to carry the momentum from this walk-off into the next game of this series against Pittsburgh. Waguespack's clean outing will factor into how A.J. Hinch manages the bullpen workload in the days ahead, particularly with Hurter having given up a run in a prior appearance. Verlander's six-strikeout, five-inning-plus start is a reasonable baseline — the Tigers will want more length from him if they face Pittsburgh again soon. Watch for how the lineup construction holds up against Pittsburgh's pitching as this series continues.