McGonigle Homers, Tigers Beat Pirates 8-5 to Tie for Wild Card

Kevin McGonigle hit a two-run homer, and the Detroit Tigers held off the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-5 on Monday night, moving into a three-way tie for the final American League wild-card spot.

Brett Callahan and Hao-Yu Lee each drove in two runs as Detroit built an 8-1 lead before Pittsburgh rallied with four runs in the sixth inning.

Zach McKinstry hit an RBI single in the first inning, and McGonigle's two-run homer in the second — his 13th of the season — made it 4-0. McGonigle later singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch in the sixth. Pirates reliever Yohan Ramirez then walked three straight batters, allowing McGonigle to score before Callahan added a two-run single to push the lead to 8-1.

Pirates starter Framber Valdez (8-8) allowed four runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking four. Kenley Jansen struck out two in the ninth for his 15th save.

Pittsburgh got its first run after Jake Mangum scored on a throwing error by Lee, then strung together a four-run sixth inning after Nick Gonzales doubled, Rafael Flores Jr. was walked and Mangum walked to load the bases. Nick Yorke cleared the bases with a double, and Henry Davis added an RBI single to make it 8-5.

Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski lasted three innings, allowing eight hits and four earned runs while striking out three and walking one.

With the Baltimore Orioles' 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay on Monday, the Tigers tied Baltimore and Texas for the final AL wild-card spot.

Right-hander Keider Montero (9-7, 3.22 ERA) is scheduled to start for Detroit on Tuesday against Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (12-5, 3.88).