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Tigers beat Pirates 8-5, tying AL wild-card race

8/18/2026

23 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Tigers Tie Wildcard

The Detroit Tigers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 on Aug 17, 2026, tying Baltimore and Texas for the AL wild-card.
Kevin McGonigle hit his 13th two-run homer while Brett Callahan and Hao-Yu Lee each added an RBI.
Framber Valdez threw 5 2/3 innings and gave up four runs.
Kenley Jansen recorded his 15th save for Detroit.
Keider Montero (9-7, 3.22 ERA) will start Tuesday against Braxton Ashcraft (12-5, 3.88 ERA).

Summary

Max Clark Catch

Max Clark made a catch that went viral, and the Tigers posted “Maxnificent” on Instagram.
Manager AJ Hinch called Clark a “baseball rat” and praised his study of major-league hitters.
In 11 games Clark hits .289 and has not attempted a stolen base, while Detroit’s MLB-lowest 35 steals leave his AAA speed unused.
He swapped a “toe-tap” cue for a leg kick, instantly improving timing and delivering a 93.6 mph heater.

History

Historical Context

In 1975 the Tigers finished last with a 57–102 record, a stark contrast to their 1984 World Series title and later postseason runs. The 2026 8–5 victory over Pittsburgh, featuring Kevin McGonigle’s 13th two-run homer and Max Clark’s leaping catch, puts Detroit back in a wild-card race with Baltimore and Texas, echoing the franchise’s pattern of occasional surges after long droughts.

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Tigers Tie Wildcard

The Detroit Tigers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 on Aug 17, 2026, tying Baltimore and Texas for the AL wild-card.
Kevin McGonigle hit his 13th two-run homer while Brett Callahan and Hao-Yu Lee each added an RBI.
Framber Valdez threw 5 2/3 innings and gave up four runs.
Kenley Jansen recorded his 15th save for Detroit.
Keider Montero (9-7, 3.22 ERA) will start Tuesday against Braxton Ashcraft (12-5, 3.88 ERA).

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