Greene Shines Again as Tigers Dominate Pirates 9-2
Riley Greene's bat was on fire once more, driving in four runs for the second time in just a week, as the Detroit Tigers triumphed over the Pittsburgh Pirates with a score of 9-2 in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader.
On the mound, Tarik Skubal (8-2) showcased his prowess, extending his remarkable streak to 8-0 over his last 13 starts. He allowed two runs on six hits and three walks across 5 2/3 innings while striking out six batters.
Greene's performance was not an isolated incident; he also recorded four RBIs in a previous game against the Cincinnati Reds, contributing to his impressive .333 batting average and 15 RBIs in just 16 games this June. Notably, he was part of a historic moment for the Tigers, who achieved four sacrifice flies in a single game—a feat they hadn't accomplished in over 70 years. The last time they reached this milestone was during an 11-inning game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 10, 1985.
Andrew Heaney (3-6) struggled on the mound for the Pirates, surrendering seven runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings.
Adding to the Tigers' offensive display, Zach McKinstry launched a solo home run in the fifth inning.
For the Pirates, Andrew McCutchen managed an RBI single in the fifth, while Tommy Pham contributed with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
Pittsburgh had an early opportunity to capitalize on Skubal's pitching, loading the bases with one out in the first inning following a single and two walks. However, Skubal responded by striking out Ke'Bryan Hayes and retiring Isiah Kiner-Falefa with a fly ball to escape the jam.
The last MLB team to achieve four sacrifice flies in a game was the Houston Astros, who did so during a 14-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on June 13, 2021.
The doubleheader will conclude at 6:10 p.m., featuring Pirates ace RHP Paul Skenes (4-6, 1.78) facing off against a Tigers opener. RHP Keider Montero (3-1, 4.24) is anticipated to handle most of the pitching duties for Detroit.
