The Detroit Tigers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 in the first game of a three-game series at Comerica Park. Javier Báez led the Tigers, hitting two solo home runs in the fifth and seventh innings, marking his 10-year MLB service milestone. Wenceel Pérez and Riley Greene also homered for Detroit, with Pérez’s two-run homer in the second and Greene’s in the sixth. Casey Mize (7-2) earned the win, pitching six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
The Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the second when Spencer Horwitz singled and scored on Adam Frazier’s groundout. Pittsburgh regained a 3-2 lead in the third via Alexander Canario’s two-run single, but Detroit tied it in the fifth and pulled ahead with three runs in the sixth, including Pérez’s triple and Greene’s homer. Canario replaced Bryan Reynolds in right field in the second inning due to Reynolds’ wife going into labor.
Pirates’ starter Bailey Falter allowed three runs over five innings, while Carmen Mlodzinski (1-5) took the loss, giving up two homers. The Tigers’ bullpen pitched three scoreless innings to seal the victory.
