Tigers grab big lead, cruise past Pirates as playoff push continues

Aug 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Gleyber Torres (right) congratulates third baseman Kevin McGonigle (7) crossing home plate on a two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Hao-Yu Lee and Zach McKinstry each had three hits while Kevin McGonigle added two -- including a two-run home run -- to help the Detroit Tigers outlast the host Pittsburgh Pirates for an 8-5 win on Monday night. Lee drove in two runs and Max Clark also had two hits as the Tigers snapped a three-game skid with 14 hits. Detroit moved into a three-way tie with Texas and Baltimore for the American League's final wild-card berth. Pittsburgh remained 6 1/2 games behind San Diego for the final National League spot. Detroit stormed out to a 4-0 lead on RBI singles by McKinstry and Lee in the first inning and McGonigle's homer off Carmen Mlodzinski (6-6) in the second. Mlodzinski gave up eight hits, one walk and struck out three, but lasted only three innings. McKinstry doubled to lead off the fifth and Lee drew a walk from reliever Isaac Mattson. McKinstry was thrown out at third on a double steal, but Lee reached second and scored on Clark's single to give Detroit a 5-0 edge. After the Pirates scored a run in the fifth, Brett Callahan gave the Tigers more insurance in the sixth with a two-run single off Yohan Ramirez after Ramirez walked Lee with the bases loaded. Tigers starter Framber Valdez (8-8) did not allow an earned run through the first five innings. With Detroit ahead 5-1, Valdez ran into trouble when Nick Gonzales doubled with one out in the sixth. Two batters later, Valdez walked Rafael Flores Jr. and then Jake Mangum to load the bases. Nick Yorke then cleared them with a two-out, line drive double down the left field line to cut Pittsburgh's deficit to 8-4 and ending Valdez's night. The left-hander allowed five runs -- four earned -- on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Henry Davis' RBI single off reliever Kyle Finnegan in the next at-bat scored Yorke to make it 8-5. Pittsburgh had two on and one out in the seventh when reliever Drew Sommers replaced Finnegan and retired Brandon Lowe on a ground out and struck out Flores to end the threat. Kenley Jansen struck out two during a perfect ninth to pick up his 16th save of the season and 492nd of his career. --Field Level Media