Henry Davis extends Grapefruit League lead in homers, RBI but Tigers rally past Pirates

Henry Davis is taking advantage of the absence of Yasmani Grandal and is doing his best to secure a spot as a catcher on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day roster.

Davis homered for the fourth time in his past five games, extending his Grapefruit League lead in home runs and RBIs. Even more impressive, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick also threw out a baserunner. Jake Lamb, Canaan Smith-Njigba and Abrahan Gutierrez also went deep for the Pirates, who lead all MLB teams with 28 homers in spring training.

But the Detroit Tigers took the lead on a three-run homer by Keston Hiura and added another for protection in rolling to an 8-5 win over the Pirates on Saturday afternoon before 6,680 at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton told reporters in Florida before the game that Grandal is dealing with plantar fasciitis, so Davis has been getting the bulk of playing time behind the plate this spring while the 12-year veteran and two-time All-Star catcher’s health is being closely monitored.

Lamb, who started at first base and went 2 for 3, also is taking advantage of his opportunities. After Liover Peguero drew a walk and advanced to second on Matt Manning’s throwing error on a pickoff attempt, Lamb hit a 1-2 curveball 337 feet for an opposite-field home run to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

The Tigers tied it up in the bottom of the first against Luis Ortiz, who allowed three runs on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts while throwing 35 of his 59 pitches for strikes over three innings. Matt Vierling hit a leadoff triple and scored on Gio Urshela’s single to right to cut it to 2-1. Colt Keith drew a two-out walk, and Carson Kelly singled to score Urshela to tie the score. The Pirates got out of the inning on a double play, when Ortiz struck out Akil Baddoo and Davis threw out Hiura trying to steal second base.

Smith-Njigba homered in his third consecutive game, ending a nine-pitch at bat during which he fouled off five by driving a 2-2 fastball 359 feet to left-center for the lead in the third. Davis added a 392-foot blast at an exit velocity of 109.4 mph to give the Pirates a two-run lead.

But the Tigers answered with a four-run fourth. Ortiz walked Keith and was replaced by Colin Holderman, who gave up singles to Kelly and Zach McKinstry to cut it to 4-3. Hiura then sent an 0-2 cutter over the right-center fence for a three-run homer and a 6-4 Detroit lead. Holderman then struck out the next three.

Left-handers Aroldis Chapman and Ryan Borucki had two strikeouts each over the next two innings. Chapman has seven strikeouts in four innings this spring, and Borucki has struck out five of 12 batters and ran his streak of scoreless innings to 3 1/3. Five Pirates pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts but also allowed 10 hits.

Former Pirates outfielder Ryan Vilade doubled off Wily Peralta then scored on a single by T.J. Hopkins for a 7-4 Tigers lead in the seventh. Detroit made it 8-4 in the eighth, when Andrew Navigato took Justin Meis deep. Pirates designated hitter Gutierrez homered to right-center in the top of the ninth to cut the deficit to three runs.

Quinn Priester will start for the Pirates against Philadelphia’s Max Castillo when the Phillies visit LECOM Park at 1:05 p.m. Sunday.