The Tigers lost, 8-5, to the Pittsburgh Pirates. They have posted a 14-17 record since June 14 — and a 1-8 record since July 9.

The Pittsburgh Pirates notched their second-straight win over the Detroit Tigers with an 8-5 victory on Tuesday night. Mitch Keller earned his third-straight win while Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds and Tommy Pham combined for nine hits and six RBI.

"We're a really good team," Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson said after the eighth loss in nine games. "We just got to play like it."

The Pirates, who had lost 11 of their previous 12 games, have taken the first two games of the series from the AL Central leaders.

The Tigers (60-42) have lost eight of their last nine games and now face the possibility of being swept by the last-place Pirates.

The Detroit Tigers are looking for some semblance of a spark as they're calling up No. 10 prospect Troy Melton, who will make his Major League Baseball debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows hit a double off Pirates ace Paul Skenes on Monday, July 21 — his first extra-base hit since June 22.

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