DETROIT _ Tried as they might, the Detroit Tigers could not thaw out on Sunday night.
Frozen at the plate during the first game of an unusual, early-season split doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates, they were unable to get much going in the nightcap, either.
In frigid, high-30 degree conditions, they were swept at Comerica Park, 8-6. The Tigers (0-3) are winless on the season.
The Tigers threatened in the ninth inning, plating runs on doubles by Dixon Machado and Miguel Cabrera, but could not solve Pirates closer Felipe Rivero, who recorded his second save of the day.
After trading blows early, the Pirates pulled ahead for good by hanging a five-spot on right-handed reliever Buck Farmer in the top of the fifth inning. Farmer was impressive in his first inning of work, striking out the side, but crashed shortly thereafter, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk.
The big blow was a two-run home run by David Freese, which put the Pirates up by five runs. The inning began with a single, double and a sacrifice fly, which rookie left fielder Victor Reyes punctuated by missing the cut-off man, allowing the runner on second base _ Josh Harrison _ to reach third.
Then, after a strikeout, a wild pitch. Then a single. Then, Freese's home run.
The Tigers _ who opened the scoring in the first inning with two runs on a Nick Castellanos single and Niko Goodrum double, respectively _ could only muster one more run.
In the sixth inning, Cabrera continued his hard hitting, blasting his _ and the Tigers' _ first home run of the season. It traveled 383 feet to right-center field.
Making the spot start as the team's designated 26th man was left-hander Ryan Carpenter, who was also making his Major League debut. Carpenter had a short outing, throwing three innings. He was touched up in the third inning, allowing back-to-back home runs.
The first, a two-run shot by Harrison, was overturned upon video review. The second, a solo shot by Starling Marte, was a no-doubter.
Carpenter allowed five hits, walked one and struck out three.
Drew VerHagen threw two scoreless innings in relief of Farmer, striking out three. Jeimer Candelario continued to string together quality at-bats, tripling. James McCann hit an RBI single to tie the game in the fourth inning, before Farmer fell apart.
To end the fifth, Reyes collided with shortstop Jose Iglesias on a pop fly to shallow left field. He left the game with a right forearm laceration and is considered day-to-day.
The Tigers continue their season-opening home stand with three games against the Kansas City Royals, beginning Monday at 1:10 p.m.
