The frustrations continued for Doug Fister on Friday night. Less than a week after picking up his first win in eight starts this season, an odd sight next to his 2.47 ERA, the Detroit Tigers right-hander struggled early giving up four runs in a 4-1 loss in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh hitters hung two runs on Fister with four hits in the bottom of the first. The Pirates picked added two more runs in the second inning, both unearned. An errant throw to third from Fister scored Pedro Alvarez. Rod Barajas sailed home when Delmon Young bobbled the ball on the same play.
Detroit's bats did nothing to help the starting pitcher. Pirates starter A.J. Burnett allowed just two hits over six innings, striking out four and walking three. Ramon Santiago hit a long double to center field that scored Jhonny Peralta for the Tigers' only run.
This is the sixth and final interleague series for the Tigers this season. Detroit won the previous five. Jim Leyland will to to lead his team to a sixth series win on Saturday at 4:05 p.m.
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