Pittsburgh Pirates Takeaways & Throwaways Game Nine

After two quick first inning runs, the Pirates offense underachieved against the Tigers in game three of the home and home series dropping the game by a score of 7-3. Here are our takeaways and throwaways of game nine of the season.

Takeaways

• The Pirates were able to manufacture two runs in the first inning taking advantage of a misplay by Miguel Cabrera and two walks from Tiger’s pitcher Shane Greene. Once again, the Pirates were patient at the plate making Greene throw close to 40 pitches in the inning. The Pirates have been successful when using the patient approach at the plate.
• The last time Ryan Vogelsong started a game for the Pirates was in 2004. That year, he appeared in 26 game and posted a 6.50 ERA. Vogelsong turned that around tonight with five strong innings. He gave up four hits and one run while striking out five. Four of those five strikeouts came within the first six batters of the game. Even though he came up with the no decision, Vogelsong proved that he is capable being a starter if needed.

Throwaways

• After putting up a crooked number in the first inning, only two Pirates reached base through the sixth inning. Greene seemed to figure out the Pirates after searching for his command in the first inning and managed to not give up another hit until David Freese came out with one out in the sixth inning.
• Arquimedes Caminero struggled in relief of Vogelsong in the sixth inning. Caminero threw 27 pitches in which he gave up two walks, and three hits, including a grand slam from Tigers’ catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia on the first pitch of the at bat. The home run was Saltalamacchia 100th of his career. After a slow spring, Caminero received his second loss of the season. Caminero, who focuses heavily on his fastball, may have went with it too much on Wednesday.

W: Shane Greene (1-0)

L: Arquimedes Caminero (0-2)

We like our grand slams extra Salty! https://t.co/PUHF1waPAp #Tigers pic.twitter.com/ZAsSlSVadb

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 14, 2016

Line of the Day:

Andrew McCutchen had a night to forget against Shane Greene. McCutchen struck out three times against Greene, all swinging. The three strikeouts nearly double the amount of strikeouts the McCutchen recorded in the first eight games. He avenged his three strikeouts with an RBI double in the eighth inning.

Next Up:

The Pirates and Tigers will conclude their four-game series on Thursday with a matinee game at PNC Park. This will be the third day game of the series, the fourth of the week for the Pirates. Gerrit Cole will toe the rubber for the Pirates, looking to right the ship after a sub par outing on Saturday at Great American Ballpark. Jordan Zimmerman will make his second start for the Tigers. Zimmerman is 1-0 with a perfect ERA for Detroit.