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Braxton Ashcraft Works 8 Efficient Innings as Pirates Top Tigers 4-1
Ashcraft allowed five hits and no walks in 8 innings, and Oneil Cruz hit his first homer since June 2 as Pittsburgh won its fourth in six games.
On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-1 at PNC Park, as right-hander Braxton Ashcraft pitched eight efficient innings and Oneil Cruz homered in his return from the injured list.
Ashcraft, a first-time All-Star, allowed five hits and zero walks while needing just 80 pitches to complete eight innings, establishing dominant efficiency that proved decisive.
Cruz, out since early June after breaking his left hand, turned on a 2-2 knuckle curve and sent a 422-foot homer to right-center in the fifth inning.
Detroit has now lost four of five games, leaving the club in a tight race for the final AL wild-card spot as it seeks to gain ground.
The series concludes Wednesday with right-hander Paul Skenes starting for Pittsburgh against Tigers starter Jackson Jobe, who seeks Detroit's eighth straight road series victory.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Braxton Ashcraft allowed five hits in eight efficient innings, Dominican Oneil Cruz connected a home run on his return from the list of injured and Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Tigers on Tuesday 4-1...