WASHINGTON (AP) — Miguel Andujar homered and drove in three runs in his season debut, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 6-3 Saturday in a day-night doubleheader opener for their best 27-game start in three decades.
Connor Joe also went deep for Pittsburgh, a National League-best 19-8. The Pirates, coming off seven straight losing seasons, are off to their best start since opening 19-7 in 1992.
Rich Hill (3-2) allowed three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings while striking out five. The 43-year-old left-hander has won three consecutive starts. David Bednar worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances.
Andujar, who started the same day he was called up from Triple-A, hit a go-ahead RBI single in the second inning and broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth with a two-run drive off Carl Edwards Jr.
Patrick Corbin (1-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
TIGERS 7, ORIOLES 4, GAME 1
DETROIT (AP) — Matt Vierling had three hits and four RBIs in Detroit’s win over Baltimore for the first of a doubleheader.
Zach Short homered and Eduardo Rodriguez (2-2) pitched effectively into the sixth inning for the Tigers. Rodriguez allowed one run on four hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six. Alex Lange pitched the ninth for his third save.
Jorge Mateo hit a three-run homer, but Baltimore lost for only the second time in 11 games. Orioles starter Dean Kremer (2-1) gave up five runs on 11 hits and two walks in six innings.
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