Braxton Ashcraft delivers gem, Oneil Cruz homers as Pirates beat Tigers

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Aug 18, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — Welcome back, Oneil Cruz.

Back to back, Braxton Ashcraft.

Ashcraft spun his second consecutive gem, completing eight innings of one-run ball on 80 pitches, and Cruz hit a two-run homer in his first appearance off the injured list to lead the Pirates to a 4-1 win against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

The Pirates will play for a series win on Wednesday. They’ve won eight consecutive home series against American League opponents.

Ashcraft threw an 85-pitch complete game in his last start against the Miami Marlins, then displayed the same efficiency on Tuesday. He retired the first 10 batters, throwing 10 pitches in the first, nine in the second and eight in the third.

But Ashcraft was matched by Tigers right-hander Keider Montero through the first four frames. Montero retired the first 12 hitters he faced, needing just 41 pitches to do so.

The Tigers managed the first baserunners of the game in the fourth when Kevin McGonigle blooped a single to center. After another single, Ashcraft induced his National League-leading 18th double play of the season to end the frame. Despite allowing two hits, he threw just eight pitches.

Detroit broke the shutout in the fifth. With two outs, Ashcraft left an 0-1 fastball down the middle that Brett Callahan crushed for his first career home run.

But the Pirates finally got him some support in the bottom half. Esmerlyn Valdez started the inning with a four-pitch walk, the first baserunner Montero had allowed, before Cruz followed with the homer. Cruz watched it fly into the seats in right-center field.

Jake Mangum followed with a bunt single, advancing to third on Rafael Flores’ book-rule double. Mangum was thrown out at home upon review on a Jared Triolo fielder’s choice, but Spencer Horwitz singled home Flores to complete the scoring in the fifth.

With two lefties and the heart of the lineup due up, Don Kelly turned to Mason Montgomery for the ninth. Montgomery worked around a leadoff error for a scoreless inning, striking out two.

It was over when …

Bryan Reynolds knocked in an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Jared Triolo singled, moved to third, then scored on Reynolds’ 113-mph liner to left.

On the mound

Ashcraft was clicking early. His fastball was up to 99 mph in the first inning, a tick above his average. He struck out just four on the night, but didn’t need the Ks to dominate a Detroit squad that was swinging early and often.

No MLB pitcher has thrown consecutive complete games in the last nine years.

At the plate

Cruz went 1 for 3 with two strikeouts in his first game back in the majors since June 8.

The Pirates had four runs on six hits, leaving just three runners on base.

Bucs bites

— Before the game, the Pirates recalled right-hander Antwone Kelly from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned right-hander Isaac Mattson.

— Both Konnor Griffin and Ryan O’Hearn participated in on-field work before the game. Griffin reiterated what senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Monday, saying he is targeting a Sept. 4 return, and threw to first base with a glove on. O’Hearn took several rounds of batting practice and hit multiple balls over the Clemente Wall.

Up next

The Pirates and Tigers will play for the series on Wednesday at 12:35 p.m. Paul Skenes (9-11, 3.88) will pitch for the Pirates after his originally scheduled Sunday start was pushed back. He’ll face right-hander Jackson Jobe (1-1, 6.23).