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On deck
Saturday: Pittsburgh at Detroit, 1:10 p.m.
Pitchers: Pirates RHP Kirby Yates (2-5) vs. Tigers RHP Justin Verlander (0-1)
Sunday: Pittsburgh at Detroit, 3:10 p.m.
Pitchers: Pirates RHP Jared Jones (6-8) vs. Tigers RHP River Ryan (0-0)
TV: Both games on SNP
DETROIT -- Spencer Torkelson finished a single short of the cycle, Jackson Jobe allowed two runs in 5• innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7 on Friday night after nearly wasting a six-run lead.
Detroit led 8-2 after seven innings, but RBI singles by Nick Gonzales and Ryan O'Hearn and a three-run homer by Rafael Flores Jr. pulled the Pirates within one run in the eighth.
Torkelson got some help from the Pirates defense -- his second-inning triple was a sinking liner to right that evaded a diving Jake Mangum, and his double was a routine fly ball to shallow right-center that fell untouched among three fielders. He hit his 26th homer in the seventh and was on deck when the Tigers made the final out of the eighth inning.
Pittsburgh (81-79) needs one win for its first winning season since 2018.
Jobe (3-3) allowed three hits and two walks while striking out eight. He returned in August from Tommy John surgery and finished with a 3.91 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 46 innings.
Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 498th save, his 22nd in 28 chances this season.
The Tigers, who are 75-85 after the win, are just one season removed from a playoff appearance last season in which they were eliminated by Cleveland.
Off night
Bubba Chandler (9-9) gave up six runs, four hits and four walks in 2ª innings.
Dillon Dingler had a two-run single, raising his career-high RBIs total to 91.
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The game started 30 minutes later than usual because of lengthy ceremonies honoring Justin Verlander on the eve of his final MLB start which will go Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m..
Verlander (0-1, 12.27) makes his first start at Comerica Park since Aug. 20, 2017, when he beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1. The Pirates will go with reliever Kirby Yates as part of a bullpen game.
Verlander, the No. 1 pick by the Tigers in 2003, signed in the offseason for what has turned out to be his final year after 20 years in the majors. Before the game, the organization held a ceremony which involved his wife and two children. His 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, threw out the first pitch.