Pirates pound Verlander

Associated Press

DETROIT

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offensive game plan worked out well on Monday.

The Pirates doubled five times off Justin Verlander and drove up his pitch count before forcing him out in the fifth inning of a 7-4 victory.

Much of the damage was done by the bottom five batters in the Pirates’ order, as they went a combined 10 for 17 with three doubles.

“When you are getting that kind of production from the bottom of your order, any major league team is going to do well,” Hurdle said.

“They were squaring up all balls and fouling off a lot of good pitches — everyone was — and that’s going to play well.”

Verlander (0-1), who took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning at Miami in his first start, allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. His 111 pitches were his most in an outing lasting fewer than five innings.

He appeared to have good stuff early, but the Pirates were able to run up his pitch count in the first two innings. Verlander needed 18 pitches as Pittsburgh scored a run in the first, then threw 37 in the second.

“It felt like they hit anything — I don’t remember getting many swings and misses,” he said. “It is kind of a snowball effect, especially against a lineup like that. They get locked in and pile good at-bat on good at-bat, and by the second or third time through the order, they’ve seen a lot of pitches.”

Jonathan Niese (1-0) gave up four runs — three earned — and five hits in six innings.