It was Jackie Robinson day throughout the major league as every team honored the man who persevered by wearing #42 on their jerseys. Robinson is well known and is a major league icon. He was well represented in a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
Both teams took the field at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on this honorable day. The Tigers scored one run in the sixth inning to ride away with a 1-0 victory and a 2-games-to-1 series win as well.
The Tigers sent Alfredo Simon, who got the win and is 2-0, to the mound to face a solid Pirates lineup. He was near perfect, giving up just two hits over eight innings of work. Simon, a new member of the Tigers, threw 108 pitches and struck out two. He now owns a 2.03 ERA on the season.
Eventually, Joakim Soria came in to pitch the ninth inning. He was looking to rack up his fourth save of the season and made it look super easy. Soria retired the side and struck out one.
The Tigers only run came in the sixth inning off the bat of Rajai Davis, who homered to left center off Francisco Liriano.
The Pirates starter, Liriano, went 6.0 innings and gave up one earned run on four hits and a walk. He threw 90 pitches and struck out seven Tiger hitters. Liriano is 0-1 on the season and has a 2.08 ERA.
While the star of the game was both Simon and Davis, a different Tiger showed that his swing may be coming around sooner than later.
Nick Castellanos struggled early in season, but after a 1-for-4 day in Game 2 and a 2-for-3 day in Game 3, the third baseman has started to turn things around. He is now hitting .235/.308/.412 on the season. Detroit hopes to see him hit in the .280 range by the end of the season, but only time will tell with the second year player.
The Tigers (8-1) will have the day off on Thursday, but will be back at it to play the Chicago White Sox (3-5) on Friday at 1:08 PM EST. That game will take place at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. David Price (1-0) will get the ball for that game.
The Pirates (3-6) also have the day off on Thursday. They will stay at home to play the Milwaukee Brewers (2-5) at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.