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Tigers-Pirates Preview

Jun 14, 2009 - 4:22 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Detroit (34-27) at Pittsburgh (28-33), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates appear to have regained their offensive production at PNC Park.

They'll try to build on a 16-hit performance on Sunday when they conclude a three-game interleague series against the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers.

The Pirates (29-33) have won seven of their last 10 at home, outscoring opponents 59-38 while hitting .321.

After going 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position in a 3-1 loss Friday, they rebounded with a 9-3 victory Saturday when Freddy Sanchez and Adam LaRoche each homered and everyone hit safely.

"That's what we need to do," Pirates manager John Russell said. "We're not going to score nine every game, but we need to be more productive when we have opportunities. We did that (Saturday)."

The Pirates, who open a six-game road trip at Minnesota on Monday, are 29th in the majors with 36 homers.

"We don't hit many home runs, we're more of a gap-to-gap team," said Sanchez, who leads the NL with 22 doubles.

Ross Ohlendorf (5-5, 4.82) wouldn't mind some of that help as he attempts to win for the first time in five starts.

The right-hander is 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in his last four starts since beating Washington on May 18. He allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings while not getting a decision in a 4-3 loss at Atlanta on Tuesday.

That was a vast improvement after he went 0-1 while giving up nine runs and 17 hits in 9 1-3 innings over his two previous outings.

"I feel like I threw probably was as well as I've thrown this year," Ohlendorf told the Pirates' official Web site. "It was sorely disappointing to get the loss. In giving up three runs, I feel like with the stuff I had, I could have given up less but they strung hits together well.

"(All my pitches) really were all working well but my fastball was the best it's been."

He is making his first start against the Tigers but threw 3 1-3 scoreless innings against them in a relief appearance last year.

The Tigers will turn to Dontrelle Willis (1-3, 6.60), who is looking to get his first victory since yielding one hit in 6 1-3 innings of a 4-0 win over Texas on May 19.

The left-hander, on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder until last month, hasn't come close to that since, going 0-3 with an 8.53 ERA and 16 walks in 19 innings over four starts.

Willis, though, showed some improvement while laboring through five innings Tuesday, allowing three runs and five hits with five walks on 105 pitches in a 7-6, 10-inning win over the Chicago White Sox.

"I've got to take my hat off to him," Tigers manager Jim Leyland told the team's official Web site. "This guy competes so hard. It's kind of a tough situation to manage right now. He wouldn't come out. I couldn't tell you how happy I was with the way he competed. I think the guys love him. I think they appreciate the way he goes about his business."

Willis is 2-4 with a 2.96 ERA in eight starts against the Pirates, whom he hasn't faced since 2007 while pitching for the Florida Marlins.