There’s no place like home: Bucs tame Tigers on 2-hitter
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH
Familiar surroundings allowed Brad Lincoln to be aggressive in his quest to remain part of Pittsburgh’s starting rotation.
Lincoln allowed two hits and a run in six innings, Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer and the Pirates won for the sixth time in seven games with a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
Lincoln (4-2) carried a no-hitter through five innings before Ramon Santiago singled to lead off the sixth. Moved into the rotation June 6, Lincoln had allowed 13 runs in 112/3 innings in three previous starts — all on the road.
Counting his time in the bullpen, Lincoln had pitched 151/3 scoreless innings at PNC Park this season until Miguel Cabrera led off the seventh with a home run.
“We did want to give him an opportunity to pitch at home,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “There’s no place like home — Dorothy said it a long time ago. Our pitchers have pitched well here.
“There’s a comfort zone here, they’re aggressive and attack the zone, and Brad was able to follow suit with that today.”
The Pirates’ 2.26 home ERA leads the majors and is a big reason why they have won eight of their past nine games at PNC Park. Pittsburgh clinched its fourth home series win, their eighth win in the past nine series overall.
“Hopefully, we can keep the momentum going,” said McCutchen, who continued a torrid pace with his 13th homer. He came into the game with 14 hits in his previous 25 at-bats.
“Different guys are coming through, getting on base and getting the big hits.”
Mired in a major North American professional sports record streak of 19 consecutive losing seasons, the Pirates (38-32) moved a season-high six games over .500.
Detroit starter Max Scherzer (6-5) rejoined the team Saturday after being away the previous two days for what the team called personal reasons.
Schrader Funeral Homes and Crematory outside his native St. Louis and near his residence in the city’s suburbs lists confirmed they will hold a service for Max’s brother Alex Scherzer. Alex Scherzer died Thursday at 24. The service is also listed on their website.
“I can’t imagine what he must have been feeling today,” Tigers catcher Alex Avila said. “I don’t if there any words to explain what he’s going through right now. He pitched a great game, really pitched his heart out.”
Through a team spokesman, Scherzer politely declined to speak with reporters. In what was a subdued postgame clubhouse, Tigers first baseman Price Fielder talked quietly with Scherzer.
“Everybody knows it was under real tough conditions but I just think it’s best that we make that a private topic,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. “I really don’t think it’s my place to get into it.”
Scherzer allowed three runs, three hits and had seven strikeouts.
“Other than the three-run homer, I thought Max was great,” Leyland said.
“It’s tough to make only one mistake and lose a ballgame, but we’re just not scoring runs right now and we haven’t for the last four or five games.”