Pirates 10 – Tigers 1: Bucs pull within two games of .500 behind Walker’s career night

W: Jeff Karstens (3-2)

L: Brad Penny (4-4)

Post-Game Wrapup: Neil Walker homered and drove in a career high 5 RBI’s, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates (21-23) to a 10-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers (22-22) on Friday night at PNC Park.

The Pirates pulled within two games of .500 with the victory, improving to 7-6 all-time against the Tigers in Pittsburgh.

The Pirates broken open the game with a 6-run sixth inning behind 2-run RBI’s from both Neil Walker and Garrett Jones.

Jones was 2-for-4 in the game with 2 runs scored, a double and 2 RBI’s. In his last four games against Detroit, Jones is 8-for-14 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI’s.

Walker later added a 3-run homer in the 8th inning, his 6th home of the season and has 29 RBI’s on the season, which ranks him in the top-10 in the National League.

The Pirates got another strong outing from Jeff Karstens (3-2) who allowed 3 hits and 1 run in 6 innings of work, earning his 3rd win of the season. Karstens lowered his ERA to 3.32 on the season.

The Pirates got to Tigers starter Brad Penny (4-4) in the 6th, who came into the game, 3-0 with a 0.83 ERA in his previous three starts. Penny allowed 6 hits and 5 runs in 5 2/3 innings, suffering his 4th loss of the season.

Penny struggled with his command, walking 5 batters and left the game after throwing 105 pitches (53 strikes).

The Pirates went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position and had eight 2-out RBI’s.

1. Andrew McCutchen (1-for-4, 1R, 1BB, 1SO)

2. Jose Tabata (2-for-3, 3R, 2BB)

3. Garrett Jones (2-for-4, 2R, 2RBI, 1BB, 1SO)

4. Neil Walker (2-for-5, 1R, 1HR, 5RBI, 1SO

5. Lyle Overbay (1-for-5, 1R, 1HR, 1RBI)

6. Ryan Doumit (1-for-4, 1RBI)

7. Brandon Wood (0-for-2, 1R, 2B, 1SO)

8. Ronny Cedeno (1-for-3, 1BB, 1SO)