BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – With University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh moonlighting as their first base coach, a split squad of Detroit Tigers scored four runs in the first inning Wednesday and beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-3.
Wearing a gray Tigers road uniform with No. 4 stitched on the jersey, Harbaugh coached the first three innings. After being replaced by Alan Trammell, Harbaugh watched the game from the dugout.
Michigan is working out this week at IMG Academy in Bradenton. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, who’s from Michigan and grew up as a Wolverines fan, met with Harbaugh and several football players before the game. Harbaugh then greeted Hurdle when they presented the lineup cards to the umpires at home plate.
Jose Iglesias and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each hit an RBI double off Pirates starter Jeff Locke. Saltalamacchia hit a solo home run in the sixth.