Marte’s approach sends Pirates over Tigers

Associated Press

DETROIT

Starling Marte dropped down a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning of Pittsburgh’s game against Detroit. Not exactly the norm for the slugging outfielder — but a sign of how much he’s struggled early this season.

Later, with the score tied in the 10th, it was time to swing away.

Marte’s two-run homer lifted the Pirates to a 5-3 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday night. It was only the second home run of the season for Marte, who is hitting .213.

“You saw him take the game in his own hands earlier and put down a bunt. There’s no bunt sign on. He wanted to bunt,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He put down the bunt the one time, and then had a couple punchouts. And then, what a sweet swing.”

Jung Ho Kang also went deep for Pittsburgh, which blew a 3-0 lead but recovered to win when Marte hit a two-out drive off Shane Greene (0-1). Detroit’s closer hadn’t allowed a run all season.

“Breaking ball,” Marte said. “Slider, I think. Gave me a pitch right in the middle. Didn’t try to do too much. Just tried to hit the ball up the middle.”

Keone Kela (1-0) gave up a tying single by Jeimer Candelario in the ninth, but Nick Kingham was able to close out the Tigers in the 10th for his first career save.

Pittsburgh starter Joe Musgrove allowed his first two earned runs of the season but was otherwise impressive. He yielded six hits and a walk while striking out six in seven innings.

Tigers starter Matthew Boyd struck out the side in the first but eventually allowed three runs in seven innings.

Pittsburgh opened the scoring on an RBI infield single by Pablo Reyes in the second. With runners on first and third and two outs, Reyes hit a weak grounder to first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who looked to throw to second for a force, only to realize he had no play there. That initial reaction also cost him any chance of a play at first.

Kang’s two-run homer in the fourth made it 3-0. He’s just 6 for 42 on the season, but two of those hits are home runs.

The Tigers scored two runs in the fourth. Cabrera came home on a passed ball, and Christin Stewart hit an RBI double.

Musgrove had allowed no earned runs in 151/3 innings entering the game.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (1-0) starts Wednesday night in the finale of this two-game series.

Tigers: Spencer Turnbull (0-2) takes the mound for Detroit.