Braxton Ashcraft works 8 efficient innings, Oneil Cruz homers as Pirates top Tigers 4-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Braxton Ashcraft allowed five hits over eight efficient innings, Oneil Cruz homered in his return from the injured list, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1 on Tuesday night.

Ashcraft (13-5), a first-time All-Star this season, struck out four and didn't issue a walk while throwing just 80 pitches. The 26-year-old right-hander, coming off the first complete game of his career in a win over Miami last week, gave up a fifth-inning homer to Tigers rookie Brett Callahan but otherwise cruised to his fourth win in five starts.

Ashcraft became the first Pittsburgh pitcher since A.J. Burnett in 2012 to record a complete game and then work at least eight innings in his next start.

Mason Montgomery worked the ninth for his fifth save.

Cruz, out since early June after breaking his left hand, turned on a 2-2 knuckle curve from Keider Montero (9-8) in the fifth inning and sent it 422 feet to right-center for his 15th homer of the season and his first since June 2. It was Pittsburgh's 81st homer at PNC Park, tying the 2003 team for the most in a season at the ballpark that opened in 2001.

Spencer Horwitz and Bryan Reynolds added RBI singles for the Pirates, who have won four of six.

Detroit, in a tight race with a handful of clubs for the final AL wild-card spot, has lost four of five.

Montero was perfect through four innings but walked Esmeryln Valez on four pitches leading off the fifth before Cruz's homer. Montero surrendered three runs on four hits in five innings.

The series concludes on Wednesday. Struggling ace Paul Skenes (9-11, 3.88 ERA), working on a week's rest, starts for Pittsburgh against Detroit's Jackson Jobe (1-1, 6.23).

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum, left, is ruled out when he can't reach home plate as he slides around Detroit Tigers catcher Eduardo Valencia, who drops the ball on the play, during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz (15) is greeted by third base coach Tony Beasley (27) as he rounds third after hitting a two-run home run off Detroit Tigers pitcher Keider Montero during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz heads back to the dugout after striking out against Detroit Tigers pitcher Keider Montero during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz watches his two-run home run off Detroit Tigers pitcher Keider Montero during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea said Wednesday the South Korean and U.S. militaries have agreed to shorten their drills at the U.S.'s request.

South Korea’s military said in a statement the ongoing drills with the U.S. would end Friday, not Aug. 27 as initially planned. It said the allies also agreed to downsize some joint field training exercises.

U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered cuts to the drills just before they began Monday.

Trump cited what he said was a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to join the U.S. war against Iran.

The U.S. Army's soldiers conduct a training exercise on a river in Yeoncheon, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

U.S. Army's soldiers conduct a training exercise on a river in Yeoncheon, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)