PITTSBURGH — Rookie Liover Peguero hit a two-run home run and Johan Oviedo pitched seven strong innings to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-1 victory over the slumping Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.
Peguero’s two-run home run to left-field bleachers capped a three-run second inning. The 3-0 lead was enough for Oviedo, who allowed one run while scattering six hits, striking out five and walking two.
Oviedo (5-11) has won back-to-back starts after losing eight consecutive decisions.
“Really big start,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. “He threw 25 pitches in the first and bounced back and was really efficient after that. He was in command of his pitches the entire game. Really solid start.”
Rookie Endy Rodriguez tripled in a run in the second to open the scoring and scored on Peguero’s third home run in 10 games since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.
“I’ve never been (in the major leagues) before so I feel the more reps I get, the better I’m going to get,” Peguero said. “I feel what’s giving me a rhythm right now is being patient at the plate, not trying to rush anything, just be fluid and try to put the best swing on every pitch.”
PHOTOS: Liover Peugero's homer and Johan Oviedo's strong pitching lead Pirates over Tigers 4-1
Another rookie, Alika Williams, had two hits for the Pirates. He doubled in a run in the fourth to push the lead to 4-0.
David Bednar pitched a perfect ninth inning for his 22nd save to close out the Pirates’ fourth win in five games. The Pittsburgh-area native had been the subject of trade rumors in recent weeks, but remained with the Pirates when baseball’s trade deadline passed Tuesday.
“Everybody knows how much I love it here and want to be here,” Bednar, a two-time All-Star said. “So, I’m happy.”
Matt Manning (3-3) remained winless in his last four starts. He gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings, struck out six and did not walk a batter.
“He made some mistakes and he paid for them,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “They won some at-bats early on a couple of loose breaking balls and they did some damage. In a game where we didn’t generate much offensively that was the separator.”
Akil Baddoo hit an RBI single for the Tigers, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.
TRADE WINDS
Both teams made deals Tuesday.
The Tigers sent All-Star right-hander Michael Lorenzen to Philadelphia for infield prospect Hao-Yu Lee. Detroit also had a trade in place to send Eduardo Rodriguez to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the veteran left-handed used the no-trade clause in his contract to veto the deal.
The Pirates traded left-hander Rich Hill and first baseman Ji-Man Choi to San Diego for first baseman Alfonso Rivas and prospects lefty Jackson Wolf and outfielder Estuar Suero. Catcher Austin Hedges was shipped to Texas for international amateur free agent bonus pool money.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (lower back inflammation) was activated from the 10-day IL. He did not play Tuesday and has appeared in only one game for Pittsburgh since June 25.
Tigers: RHP Spencer Turnbull (neck discomfort) will make his third rehab start Friday when he pitches for Triple-A Toledo after two outings with Class A West Michigan. … RHP Will Vest (right lower leg strain) was scheduled to pitch for Toledo on a rehab assignment on Tuesday for the first time since going on the IL on June 27.
UP NEXT
Rodriguez (6-5, 2.95 ERA) will pitch for the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of the two-game series against rookie RHP Osvaldo Bido (2-1, 4.50).
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