Detroit evened their interleague series.

Shane “The Crane” Greene was our catalyst. We rode the sophomore starter for eight innings, and it would’ve been a complete game.

He was backed up by rock-solid Tigers defense. “Dirt Devil” Jose Iglesias swallowed each ball hit his way (and Nick Castellanos’). Ian Kinsler robbed one late, and the outfield made every stop.

The Pirates did not do the little things right. A.J. Burnett led the majors in walks last season, but it took us some time to figure that out. Finally, after putting runners on second and third the inning before, we worked Burnett in the 7th. He walked two straight batters (and surpassed 100 pitches). With two outs, Rajai Davis broke his back on a single up the middle that scored Alex Avila.

Their defense did not back them up. It was a porous throw home from Andrew McCutchen in center on the first run. Iglesias singled in the 9th, and upon seeing their same center fielder dogging it, he took 2nd base. And, with two outs again, “Dirt Devil” came storming home on a Kinsler single, only to a weak throw from left field.

All these little things made the difference in a 2-0 game. Greene surrendered no bases on balls and only three hits, so Detroit never faced a runner in scoring position. Pittsburgh also ended the night without their manager, who softly ejected himself in the late innings.

Because we pinch-hit for “The Crane,” he couldn’t go the ninth despite throwing only 81 pitches. Joakim Soria easily saved the win, getting the first two Pirates to ground right back to him, before a fly ball finished it off.