DETROIT -- The Pirates didn't have Mitch Keller on the mound Wednesday afternoon, but Rich Hill did more than enough to give the team a chance to earn a much-needed win before heading back home.
The dam broke for the offense as they piled up 14 hits in an 8-0 thrashing of the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park, but Hill did his best ace impression, setting the tone with six scoreless innings in which he allowed the Tigers' only hit of the ballgame.
That lone base hit came in the first inning when Matt Vierling hit a comebacker that glanced off Hill's glove and died in the infield grass for a single. Hill answered the unlucky bounce by striking out the next five batters he faced. But, before Hill could start flirting with any kind of baseball history, Miguel Cabrera stepped up to the plate and finally put a ball in play for Detroit.
Cabrera slapped an 0-1 cutter to the right side of the infield, but Carlos Santana laid out to make the diving stop. Santana then flipped to Hill covering the bag, starting a foot race between him and Cabrera.
At a combined age of 83, both Hill and Cabrera hustled to the bag, with the Pirates' starter emerging victorious:
If you add Santana's diving stop into the mix, the combined age of everyone involved in the play is 120.
"Rich Hill definitely wins the prize there," Derek Shelton chuckled. "It was a great play by Carlos; Rich did a great job getting over, Miggy went hard, and we got the out."
Hill said he didn't talk any smack for winning the race to the bag. Ultimately, he was just grateful that he got the out against an all-time great player, especially in winning fashion.
"He’s gonna go down as one of the best players in the history of this game," Hill said of Cabrera. "Just facing him over the years, I feel grateful to be on the same playing field as a guy like that.
"It was fun," Hill added with a smile, "but I have to get over a little quicker next time."
Pirates play-by-play announcer Joe Block pointed out prior to Wednesday's game that Hill faced Cabrera all the way back on June 15, 2005. And yet, 18 years later, both guys are still playing in the big leagues. Definitely a fun moment in a game the Pirates desperately needed.