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Tigers Shut Down Pirates Again In 1-0 Victory

By WILL GRAVES/AP Sports Writer

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Alfredo Simon gave up two hits over eight dominant innings, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 on Wednesday night.

Rajai Davis hit a leadoff homer in the sixth against Francisco Liriano (0-1) as Detroit shut out Pittsburgh for the second straight day. Joakim Soria worked a perfect ninth for his fourth save while filling in for injured Joe Nathan.

Detroit won two of three in the interleague series despite scoring just seven runs. Simon (2-0) struck out only two but took advantage of solid defense behind him as the Tigers handed Pittsburgh consecutive home losses for the first time since last August.

Detroit had just five hits off four Pittsburgh pitchers but received all the offense it would need when Davis hit his first home run of the season.

A night after managing just three hits against Shane Greene in a 2-0 loss, the Pirates weren't any better against Simon. A surprise All-Star a year ago for Cincinnati, the beefy right-hander breezed through Pittsburgh's punchless lineup after surviving an eventful 5 1-3 innings in his debut with Detroit last Friday.

Simon didn't allow a hit until consecutive two-out singles by Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker in the fourth. Starling Marte grounded into a fielders' choice to end the threat and Simon went right back to work, retiring the final 10 batters he faced the Pirates' early season offensive funk grew deeper.

Pittsburgh has gotten just one runner to second base over its last 20 innings and hasn't earned a walk since Saturday.

The Tigers, who came roaring into town undefeated behind baseball's top offense, cooled over three games but still managed to improve to 8-1 heading into a 10-game homestand that begins on Friday against the Chicago White Sox.

Detroit struggled getting to Liriano, who returned from a brief stint on the paternity list when his wife delivered the couple's fourth child. Expertly mixing his fastball with a slider that dived off the plate, Liriano matched Simon until his first pitch of the sixth, an 81 mph slider that Davis put into the first row of bleachers in left field for his first homer of the season and just the 35th of his decade-long career.

EARLY EXIT

Home plate umpire Jerry Layne left the game in the top of the ninth inning when an 88 mph cutter from Mark Melancon struck Layne's mask. Layne pointed to his mouth in obvious pain. Second-base umpire Bob Davidson called the rest of the game in Layne's place.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: Pitcher Justin Verlander's return from a strained right triceps hit a speedbump on Wednesday when he ended a simulated game early due to fatigue. Verlander threw 80 pitches total, 35 in the bullpen and another 45 on the mound. Manager Brad Ausmus said Verlander will likely need another simulated game or a rehab start before he's ready to be activated off the disabled list but said any decision on Verlander's status won't be made until at least Friday. ... Nathan threw batting practice on Wednesday without any issues as he works his way back from a right flexor strain.

Pirates: Pitcher Charlie Morton will make a start at extended spring training on Saturday, where he will be on a 55-pitch limit. Morton is returning from offseason hip surgery.

UP NEXT

Tigers: David Price (1-0) takes a 21 2-3 regular season scoreless inning streak into Friday's game at the Chicago White Sox. Price hasn't given up a run in his last three regular season starts. The 29-year-old Price is 7-2 with a 2.89 ERA in 12 career games (10 starts) at Comerica Park.

Pirates: Pittsburgh gets a second look at Milwaukee when the teams open a three-game series at PNC Park on Friday. The Pirates won two of three against the Brewers on the road last week. The lone loss came against Friday's starter Jimmy Nelson, who threw seven shutout innings at the Pirates last Saturday. Jeff Locke (1-0, 3.00 ERA) starts for Pittsburgh.
© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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