The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-1 last night at PNC Park. Starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft tossed a second consecutive gem, allowing one run on five hits over eight innings. Ashcraft did not allow a walk while striking out four, improving to 13-5 this season. He threw just 80 pitches and became the first Pirates pitcher since A.J. Burnett in 2012 to record a complete game and then work at least eight innings in his next start.
Mason Montgomery closed the game in the ninth inning for his fifth save.
Oneil Cruz returned from the Injured List and hit his 15th home run of the season, and his first since June 2nd. That home run was the Pirates 81st home run at PNC Park this season, tying the 2003 team for the most in a season at the ballpark that opened in Pittsburgh in 2001.
The series will conclude this afternoon at 12:35pm. WISR pre-game begins at 12:10pm. Paul Skenes will start for the Bucs. He is 9-11 this season with a 3.88 ERA.
The Pirates are off tomorrow, and begin a nine-game road trip in Los Angeles against the Dodgers Friday night.
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