The Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 7-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Friday in spring training action. Jhostynxon Garcia paced the offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged about as the exhibition schedule continues. On the mound, Mike Clevinger turned in a solid outing, working 4.1 innings of 2-run ball with five strikeouts. The Pirates finished with 11 hits on the day while holding the Tigers to 3. The Pirates will take confidence from a well-rounded effort on both sides of the ball. Spring training is about building toward the regular season, and this was a step in the right direction.
Key Performers
Jhostynxon Garcia was the standout at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. His power was on full display throughout the game. The Pirates will be hoping for more of the same as the spring continues.
Endy Rodríguez added to the attack, going 2-for-4 with an RBI, Jake Mangum provided support, going 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Tyler Callihan also contributed, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Multiple contributors at the plate made life difficult for the opposing pitching staff.
On the other side of the diamond, Parker Meadows led the Tigers offense with a 1-for-3 with two RBI day. Wenceel Pérez also contributed, going 1-for-2. Woody Hadeen added a 1-for-2 effort as well. Despite those contributions, the Pirates pitching staff did enough to limit the damage and secure the victory.
On the Mound
Mike Clevinger earned the win after turning in a quality outing, working 4.1 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 1 hit with five strikeouts. He threw 67 pitches in the outing. The coaching staff will review his performance as they continue mapping out the pitching plan for the regular season.
The bullpen combined for 3.5 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out five. The Pirates continue to sort through their relief options as they build their Opening Day bullpen. Every inning pitched in the spring is an opportunity for pitchers to make their case for a spot on the roster when the games start counting. Carson Fulmer recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Carson Fulmer stood out with 2.0 innings of scoreless work, striking out one. It was an impressive showing that could factor into roster decisions.
How It Happened
The Pirates struck first, plating two runs in the second inning. The Pirates tacked on two runs in the third. The Pirates pushed across two runs in the fourth. Tigers struck back with two runs in the fifth. Tigers added three runs in the seventh. The Pirates responded with a run in the ninth. The Pirates spread their scoring across four different innings, applying consistent pressure throughout the game. The Pirates out-hit Tigers 11-3 on the day, with 1 error committed between the two clubs. A crowd of 6,122 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Pirates will look to build on this positive performance as spring training winds down. With the regular season rapidly approaching, outings like this one provide confidence and continuity for a roster that is rounding into form. Every remaining exhibition game is another chance to sharpen the details before the games start counting for real.
