Tigers
Pirates
2 - 0 Final
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Porcello stymies Pirates; Tigers halt skid

May 22, 2011 - 10:12 PM

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Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Rick Porcello tossed eight scoreless innings and Jhonny Peralta ripped a solo home run, as the Detroit Tigers salvaged the final game of a three-game interleague series with a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Porcello (4-2) surrendered just one hit and struck out three with two walks for the Tigers, who snapped a five-game losing streak. He also had a hit while Casper Wells brought in the other run for the victors.

Ronny Cedeno had the lone hit against Porcello for the Pirates, who had a four-game win streak halted.

"There wasn't a whole lot of offense for us," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "We did everything we could as a staff to minimize the damage."

Paul Maholm (1-7) was the hard-luck loser, allowing two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two.

"I feel good and I feel like I've been pitching well," said Maholm, who has dropped three straight starts. "I'm hoping the tide will turn soon."

Jose Valverde came in the ninth for the save, but ran into a bit of trouble. After putting the first two batters on base, the closer struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Doumit. He then got Garrett Jones to ground out, but that moved the tying run at second with two outs.

Valverde buckled down, though, and got his 11th save of the season when Neil Walker grounded out to end the game.

"I lobbied for the complete game, but in that situation (Valverde) is our guy," Porcello said. "I felt pretty good having him come in."

Detroit got on the board during the second frame when Victor Martinez walked with one down and later scored all the way from second on Wells' two-out single.

Peralta homered in the fourth to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Porcello, meanwhile, was on cruise control, throwing five no-hit innings. He had a little help during the fifth, when Ryan Raburn tracked down Lyle Overbay's fly ball to the warning track in left.

However, Cedeno doubled to start the sixth. Xavier Paul's sacrifice bunt moved him to third and Andrew McCutchen drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Porcello, though, escaped with no harm by forcing a double-play groundout from Jose Tabata.

Game Notes

Porcello threw just 84 pitches, 53 of them for strikes to record his fourth straight positive decision after beginning the year 0-2 with a no- decision...The Pirates were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.






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