The Pirates lost 7-2 to the Detroit Tigers Friday afternoon after Daniel McCutchen allowed six runs in the ninth.

The news is not all bad, though. McCutchen’s awful inning occurred in part because he allowed a number of ground ball singles (although the grand slam by Quintin Berry didn’t help). And Charlie Morton, who’s off to a late start after recovering from offseason hip surgery, pitched four scoreless innings to start the game, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out two. Due to a couple of off days soon after the start of the season, the Pirates won’t need Morton until mid-April, but the signs are encouraging that he’ll be ready by then.

Matt Hague homered for the Pirates, and Jose Tabata went 3-for-4.

Third baseman Pedro Alvarez sat out the game with what the Pirates report is a knee injury. It doesn’t sound particularly serious.

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