Ashcraft pitches another gem, Cruz homers in return as Pirates beat Tigers

PITTSBURGH — This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.

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.

Scoring Plays

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.

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