HOUSTON, Texas - Former CSU Pueblo pitcher Beau Brieske secured a save for Detroit as the Detroit Tigers opened the American League Wild Card series at Houston on Tuesday by defeating the Astros 3-1 at Minute Maid Park.
Brieske relieved with one out and two on base in the bottom of the ninth and got Victor Caratini to fly out to short left. The Pack product walked Chas McCormick to load the bases before retiring MLB veteran Jason Heyward on a line out at first base to earn the save and secure the Tigers' first playoff win since 2013.
In his third season with the Tigers, after being picked in the 27th round by Detroit in the 2019 MLB draft, Brieske pitched a season at CSU Pueblo in 2019 and posted a 7-5 record for the ThunderWolves.
A Chandler, Ariz., prep product, Brieske pitched in 46 games this season with 12 starts and posted a 4-5 record. In 67.2 innings pitched, he tallied a 3.59 earned run average and 69 strikeouts. He has pitched in 86 career MLB games and has posted a 9-14 record and 3.86 ERA.
Other Coloradoans on playoff rosters are in the National League "Wild Card" series – Pierce Johnson, Atlanta Braves, Faith Christian, and David Peterson, New York Mets, Regis.
