DETROIT — Sloppy weather caused a 40-minute delay for the first half of Thursday’s doubleheader at Comerica Park. And while play was eventually able to begin, the Pittsburgh Pirates, similar to the weather, continued to look a mess, losing to the Detroit Tigers by a final score of 9-2.

Reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal battled through the elements to earn the win, improving his record to 8-2 on the year. Pirates starter Andrew Heaney suffered the loss, dropping him to 3-6.

While neither pitcher had his best stuff, Heaney struggled far more than his counterpart. The unfavorable playing conditions led the Pirates’ veteran southpaw to struggle with his command, of which Detroit took full advantage.

Riley Greene put the Tigers ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning with a sacrifice fly to left field. The effort scored Gleyber Torres, who led off the frame with a single. The Tigers plated four more runs in the bottom of the second, the first coming on a sacrifice fly from Torres and then the next three on a bases-clearing, two-out double from Greene. Two of the runs that scored on Greene’s hit reached via walk.

The Tigers continued to pile on as the game progressed.

Torres doubled home Parker Meadows in the bottom of the fourth. He then came around to score later in the frame on a sacrifice fly from Spencer Torkelson, making the score 7-0 after four innings. Heaney’s day ended after the fourth. He finished having allowed the seven runs, all of them earned, on eight hits and three walks while striking out two.

Zach McKinstry welcomed Heaney’s replacement, Chase Shugart, into the ballgame with a leadoff homer in the top of the fifth inning. Detroit added another run in that frame on a sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Colt Keith.

Unlike the Pirates pitchers, Skubal experienced no such hardship. His outing started off shakily, allowing a single and then a pair of walks to load the bases with only one out in the top of the first inning. But the Pirates failed to make the most of the opportunity, stranding all three runners on base.

After escaping the first-inning drama, Skubal settled in, surrendering only one hit over the next three frames. In the end, he allowed two runs, both earned, on six hits and three walks while striking out six batters over 5 2/3 innings. The first run came in the top of the fifth inning, when Andrew McCutchen drove home Billy Cook with a groundout to second base, while the second came an inning later on a sacrifice fly from Tommy Pham.

It was over when ...

... Greene cleared the bases on a double to center field in the bottom of the second inning. Cook made a diving effort on the ball but was unable to make the play. The three-RBI knock gave the Tigers, with Skubal on the mound, a 5-0 lead.

On the mound

Although he allowed additional damage, Shugart kept the Pirates bullpen fresh for the next game thanks to his three innings of relief. The outing marked the longest of Shugart’s major league career. Ryan Borucki threw the Pirates’ final inning of relief, tossing a scoreless frame in the bottom of the eighth.

At the plate

The Pirates failed to tally a hit after Skubal’s exit. Don Kelly’s club finished the contest 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.

Most valuable player

Greene, who finished 2 for 4 with four RBIs.

Up next

The Pirates will play the back end of their doubleheader against the Tigers at Comerica Park on Thursday evening. Because of the delay to the first game, first pitch, which was originally set for 5:40 p.m., is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. ET.

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