Ashcraft Pitches Another Gem, Cruz Homers in Return as Pirates Beat Tigers

PITTSBURGH — After throwing a complete game in his last start in Miami, Braxton Ashcraft threw eight strong innings for the Pirates on Tuesday night. His efforts, along with a two-run home run from Oneil Cruz in his first game off the injured list, lifted Pittsburgh to a 4-1 win over the Tigers at PNC Park.

Top 5th, 1-0 DET: Brett Callahan hit his first-career home run, a solo shot to right off Braxton Ashcraft (13-5) to give the Tigers (61-65) the lead.

Bottom 5th, 3-1 PIT: The Pirates (62-66) didn’t get their first hit off Keider Montero (9-8) until the fifth, but Oneil Cruz’s two-run home run in his second at-bat off the injured list gave them the lead. Later in the inning, Spencer Horwitz singled home another run with two outs.

Bottom 8th, 4-1 PIT: Bryan Reynolds plated Jared Triolo with a two-out single to left-center off Enmanuel De Jesus to give the Pirates an insurance run.

Right after the Tigers took the lead in the top of the fifth, Oneil Cruz’s home run put the Pirates in front and started a three-run inning.

Oneil Cruz with a milestone dinger!!!

That home run ties the Pirates PNC Park single-season record of 81 total homers hit at home (2003). pic.twitter.com/BozjstpKCg

Braxton Ashcraft held the Tigers to one run in eight innings. The right-hander allowed five hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out four.

Braxton Ashcraft has allowed two runs over 17 combined innings between his last two starts. After posting a 7.78 ERA in July, he has a 2.00 ERA through four starts this month.

• Braxton Ashcraft: 8.0 innings, five hits, one run, no walks, four strikeouts, 80 pitches/61 strikes
• Oneil Cruz: 1 for 3, one home run, two RBI, one run

• Oneil Cruz’s home run was the Pirates’ 81st at PNC Park this season, tying the ballpark record set in 2003. It was the team’s first home run since Brandon Lowe went deep in the fifth inning of Friday’s game against Boston.
• Tigers starter Keider Montero retired the first 12 batters he faced before four straight batters reached to begin a three-run fifth inning.
• Mason Montgomery converted his fifth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.
• The Pirates recalled RHP Antwone Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis. RHP Isaac Mattson was optioned to Indianapolis.

RHP Paul Skenes (9-11, 3.88 ERA) will be on the mound for Pittsburgh after having his start pushed back from Sunday. RHP Jackson Jobe (1-1, 6.23 ERA) starts for the Tigers. First pitch: 12:35 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/MLB Network/100.1 FM & AM 1020.

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