Tsung-Che Cheng and Connor Joe each hit home runs, but the Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated 5-3 by the Detroit Tigers at LECOM Park on Wednesday.
Cheng’s two-run home run to center field in the bottom of the third broke a scoreless tie. Three batters later, Joe connected on a solo shot to left to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead.
Yard work from CoJo. pic.twitter.com/R0GfJuyVVn
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) February 28, 2024
Former Pirate Bligh Madris hit a solo home run off of Aroldis Chapman, who was making his spring debut, to get Detroit on the board. The Tigers (3-2) scored a pair of runs off of Josh Fleming in the seventh inning which evened the score at 3-3.
With the score tied 3-all in the eighth, Anthony Bemboom and Wenceel Perez each hit solo home runs off of Dauri Moreta to put them ahead by the final tally of 5-3.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will travel to Sarasota to take on the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Last year’s top pick Paul Skenes will make his Grapefruit League debut. He will be opposed by former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes. First pitch: 1:05 ET.
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