Braxton Ashcraft excels on mound again to lead Pirates past Tigers

Aug 18, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (35) delivers a pitch against the Detroit Tigers during the second nning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Braxton Ashcraft gave up one run over eight innings and Oneil Cruz homered in his return to the Pirates' lineup to help host Pittsburgh secure a 4-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. Ashcraft (13-5) struck out four, did not issue a walk and gave up five hits on an efficient 80 pitches to help the Pirates lock up a needed win. Ashcraft's gem followed his complete-game masterpiece last Thursday against the Marlins, in which he also allowed one run. Ashcraft became the first Pirates pitcher since A.J. Burnett in 2012 to follow a complete game with an eight-inning start. The only blemish on Ashcraft's start came in the fifth inning when rookie Brett Callahan hit his first major league home run -- a 393-foot solo blast to right field -- to break a scoreless stalemate. Callahan had two of the Tigers' five hits. Neither side had a hit or even a baserunner until Kevin McGonigle, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday, and Colt Keith mustered back-to-back singles with one out. But Eduardo Valencia grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat. Playing in his first game since June 7, Cruz delivered the Pirates' first hit with a bang when he belted a two-run home run -- his 15th this season -- to center field off Tigers starter Keider Montero (9-8) to put Pittsburgh ahead 2-1. Cruz was activated from the injured list on Monday after missing over two months due to fourth and fifth metacarpal non-displaced fractures in his left hand. Montero retired the first 12 Pirates he faced and threw 41 pitches through four innings. He threw 37 pitches during Pittsburgh's three-run fifth. Montero allowed three runs on four hits and one walk, striking out three over five innings. After Cruz left the yard, Jake Mangum's bunt single and a ground-rule double by Rafael Flores Jr. put runners on second and third. Mangum was thrown out at home -- a ruling that was upheld after review after he didn't touch home plate -- on a ground ball by Jared Triolo. But Spencer Horwitz drove in Flores with an RBI single to push the Pirates' lead to 3-1. Bryan Reynolds added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out RBI single to score Triolo. Mason Montgomery pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his fifth save. --Field Level Media