Braxton Ashcraft has turned into the Pirates’ stopper, and he proved it again last night with another dominant performance on the mound in a Bucco win over the Tigers.
Joe Block has the recap.
Ashcraft was in complete control in the Pirates’ shortest game of the season, a two-hour, two-minute gem. He threw only 80 pitches, 61 of them strikes and his pitch count was at only 49 after five innings. Manager Donnie Kelly said it was “ridiculous” for him to take Ashcraft out after eight innings, but he felt it was the right decision, even though the big right-hander could have gone for his second straight complete game.
Oneil Cruz’s home run was his fifteenth of the season in his comeback game after missing more than two months with two fractures in his left hand. It was the Pirates’ 83rd homer of the season at PNC Park, tying the team record set in 2003. Kelly was thrilled to see him back in the lineup.
The Pirates and Tigers wrap up the series this afternoon. Paul Skenes (9-11, 3.88 ERA), pitching on seven days rest, faces Detroit’s Jackson Jobe (1-1, 6.23 ERA). Airtime is 12:10, first pitch at 12:35 on WCCS.
The Pirates recalled right-hander Antwone Kelly from Indianapolis to strengthen an exhausted bullpen. It’s Kelly’s fourth stint with the Bucs. Isaac Matson was sent back down to Indy.
