Tigers Drop A 13-Inning Heartbreaker On Opening Day

It took nearly five and a half hours, but the Tigers lose on Opening Day 13-10 in 13 innings to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Facing a 4-2 deficit at the seventh inning stretch, the Tigers responded with a four run bottom of the seventh, started by a Miguel Cabrera 2-RBI double. The Pirates punched back with a two run top of the eighth, and then each team put up four runs in their half of the ninth inning, and we were off to extras.

As if this game couldn't get any wilder, Detroit thought they had won the game almost an hour before the eventual final out was recorded. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Nicholas Castellanos legged out a ball batted to the shortstop to reach base on a fielder's choice.

A wild pitch would move Castellanos to second base. JaCoby Jones then would line a ball into shallow left field and Castellanos was waved around trying to end it. Corey Dickerson's throw was just off-line but Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli dove back to his right to try and tag the runner. Umpire calls safe, Comerica Park erupts and the Tigers mob both Jones and Castellanos.

In the middle of the fray Pirates manager Clint Hurdle challenged the play, because why not? It's not like they carry over to the next one. After a lengthy review Castellanos was ruled out, we moved on to the 11th inning sans new Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire who was ejected for arguing the call.

In the 13th inning, Gregory Polanco took a ball deep to right-center field with two runners on to give the game its final score. The Tigers mustered two singles in the bottom of the 13th but back to back strikeouts from Mikie Mahtook and Jose Iglesias ended the opening day festivities in Detroit.

Jordan Zimmermann had a strong showing for his first start, six innings and eight strikeouts while giving up four earned runs. Dixon Machado had perhaps the best Tigers batting line of the day, he was 2-6 with 3 RBIs.

Bullpens struggled mightily for both of these team. All but one pitcher on each side was used (Buck Farmer for Detroit, Tyler Glasnow for Pittsburgh). Detroit's bullpen gave up eight earned runs in seven innings of combined work. The Pirates pen gave up eight earned runs in eight innings of work.

The same two teams matchup tomorrow at 1:10pm at Comerica Park. Michael Fulmer gets the start for Detroit against Trevor Williams.