Final
Tigers-Pirates Preview
Apr 12, 2016 - 10:43 PM Shane Greene began his tenure with the Detroit Tigers in impressive fashion, then showed only brief glimpses of that stretch for the remainder of last season before landing on the disabled list.His hard work in spring training kept him in the conversation for the fifth starter's slot before ultimately losing out on the job, but an injury has given Greene another chance in the rotation and put him nearly back to square one - trying to impress his manager with a solid outing on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.
Detroit (4-2) acquired Greene from the New York Yankees in a three-team deal last offseason and he promptly won his first three starts with a 0.39 ERA. He went 1-8 with a 9.20 ERA in his last 13 starts, though, and was sent to the bullpen before an artery issue in his in right hand ended his major league season in early August.
Greene vowed to recapture his early season form during the spring, but Daniel Norris beat him out for the last spot in the rotation. Norris, though, is on the DL with a back injury, giving Greene an audition.
The right-hander earned his first big league save in the Tigers' 8-7, 11-inning victory at Miami on April 5 in his first appearance. He was supposed to start Monday, but Sunday's contest against the New York Yankees was postponed and he was pushed back two days.
"It's almost like he doesn't see anything else going on around him," manager Brad Ausmus told MLB's official website. "I don't mean that in a negative way. He sees the catcher, gets the sign, throws the pitch. His whole world is 60 feet, six inches.
"If he pitches well, he'll stay (in the rotation)."
Another stellar performance against the Pirates (5-3) should earn him at least another start. Greene pitched perhaps the best game of his career April 14 at Pittsburgh, allowing three hits in eight innings of a 2-0 victory in his second start as a Tiger.
He'll be back on the PNC Park mound nearly a year to the day later following the Tigers' 8-2 victory in Detroit on Tuesday to earn a split. Justin Upton went 4 for 5 with his first home run as a Tiger, and he, Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez (career high-tying four hits) had two RBIs apiece.
Upton has three doubles but has struck out 11 times in 28 at-bats against Ryan Vogelsong, who gets the ball in place of Francisco Liriano. A clubhouse spokesperson said after Tuesday's game that Liriano is dealing with hamstring discomfort and is considered day to day.
Vogelsong picked up a 6-5 victory in relief Friday against Cincinnati despite giving up two runs - one earned - and walking two in two innings. Starling Marte bailed out Liriano and Vogelsong with a grand slam in the eighth.
The right-hander, who went 8-10 with a 4.50 ERA in 22 starts last season, hasn't faced the Tigers since 2011. The Pirates hope to provide him with more support after registering only five hits Tuesday.
"As much as we were grinding, we just couldn't do anything," said Matt Joyce, who went 0 for 2 with two walks.
The Pirates have dropped three of their last four, scoring two runs or fewer in each defeat. Marte accounted for their only scoring Tuesday with a homer in the sixth.
Marte has 11 hits over the last six after a pair of 0-for-4 games to start the season.
- DETROIT: 7
PITTSBURGH: 3
Final
Apr 13 10:19 PM - J.D. Martinez singles to shallow center field. Miguel Cabrera to second. Victor Martinez to third. Anthony Gose scores.
Tigers 7, Pirates 3 Top 9, 2 OutsApr 13 10:10 PM - Kinsler hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder S.Marte, J.Iglesias scored.
Tigers 5, Pirates 3 Mid 9Apr 13 10:01 PM - Ian Kinsler out on a sacrifice fly to left field to Starling Marte. Jose Iglesias scores.
Tigers 6, Pirates 3 Top 9, 0 OutsApr 13 9:59 PM - Andrew McCutchen doubles to deep left field. Sean Rodriguez scores.
Tigers 5, Pirates 3 Bot 8, 1 OutApr 13 9:43 PM - Castellanos singled to left, Mi.Cabrera to third, J.Martínez to second.
Tigers 5, Pirates 2 Mid 6Apr 13 8:43 PM - Jarrod Saltalamacchia homers to right field. Nick Castellanos scores. J.D. Martinez scores. Miguel Cabrera scores.
Tigers 5, Pirates 2 Top 6, 2 OutsApr 13 8:43 PM - Polanco grounded into fielder's choice, shortstop J.Iglesias to second baseman Kinsler, Freese scored, S.Marte to third, Cervelli out.
Tigers 0, Pirates 1 End 1Apr 13 7:33 PM - Gregory Polanco reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Francisco Cervelli out at second. Starling Marte to third. David Freese scores.
Tigers 0, Pirates 2 Bot 1, 1 OutApr 13 7:32 PM - Francisco Cervelli walks. Starling Marte to second. David Freese to third. John Jaso scores.
Tigers 0, Pirates 1 Bot 1, 1 OutApr 13 7:29 PM - Ian Kinsler called out on strikes.
Apr 13 7:08 PM
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