Paul bracket: 2017 Pirates defeat 1924 Tigers in six games

Game 1: Pirates 7, Tigers 1
WP: Cole (1-0)
LP: Whitehill (0-1)
HR: McCutchen (1), Cobb (1), Bell (1), Jaso (1)

Game 2: Pirates 3, Tigers 2
WP: LeBlanc (1-0)
LP: Dauss (0-1)
Save: Rivero (1)
HR: Rigney (1)

Game 3: Tigers 11, Pirates 3
WP: Stoner (1-0)
LP: Taillon (0-1)
HR: Polanco (1), Manush (1)

Game 4: Pirates 5, Tigers 4
WP: Brault (1-0)
LP: Dauss (0-2)
HR: Heilmann (1)

Game 5: Tigers 4, Pirates 1
WP: Whitehill (1-1)
LP: Cole (1-1)
HR: Cobb (2)

Game 6: Pirates 6, Tigers 5
WP: Nova (1-0)
LP: Collins (01)
Save: Rivero (2)
HR: Mercer (1)


The 11-seeded Pirates won three one-run games, two of them with ninth-inning rallies, to defeat the sixth-seeded Tigers.

The opener was Pittsburgh's "easy" win. Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer in the sixth to put the Pirates in the lead, and four Pittsburgh relievers held the Tigers scoreless in the final four innings. Josh Harrison scored three runs for the Pirates.

Jody Mercer doubled in two unearned runs with two out in the ninth inning of the second game to put the Pirates in the lead. One of the two runs the Tigers scored was also unearned as starters Ivan Nova and Rip Collins dueled to no-decisions.

The series shifted to PNC Park for Game Three, and the Tigers feasted on Jameson Taillon. He faced nine men and retired only one of them. Harry Heilmann cleared the bases with a double, and Les Burke doubled home a pair in the inning as well. The Tigers scored nine runs in the inning. Lil Stoner went the distance for Detroit.

Heilmann's sixth-inning homer in Game Four put the Tigers up 5-4, and it appeared Detroit was about to even the series. But the Pirates opened the bottom of the ninth with a pinch-hit walk off Dutch Leonard. Hooks Dauss entered and got a flyout, but then Harrison doubled and McCutchen singled, with Harrison easily beating Heine Manush's throw to the plate wth the winning run.

Ty Cobb's three-run homer in the fifth inning of Game 5 gave Earl Whitehill the runs he needed. The lefty scatted seven hits in the complete game victory to stave off elimination.

The series returned to Detroit's Navin field for Game 6. Sterling Marte tripled home two runs in the third to put the Pirates ahead, and the Tigers never caught up despite scoring three runs in the top of the ninth against three Pittsburgh relievers. Felipe Rivero retired Manush and Frank O'Rourke with the tying run on base to end the game and the series.

Player of the Series: Andrew McCutchen

Player availability: Ivan Nova can't pitch until Game 3.

Projected rotation: Cole-Taillon-Nova-Kuhl-(Cole)-(Taillon)-(Nova)