PITTSBURGH — Erik Gonzalez had a career night at the plate and Chad Kuhl a promising return as a starting pitcher Friday night at PNC Park.

But neither performance was enough to prevent the Pittsburgh Pirates from dropping a wild 17-13, 11-inning decision to the Detroit Tigers. The loss was the Pirates’ eighth in nine games and sank the team’s major league-worst record to 3-11.

The game marked the first time since 1991 the Pirates were involved in a contest where both teams scored at least 12 runs. It was the first time since 1922 that a Pirate game went into extra innings with that high a score.

Gonzalez collected four hits — including a homer and double — and six RBI in the loss. Phil Evans drilled a three-run homer for the Pirates.

Evans had four RBI — including a run-scoring single in the ninth — and Bryan Reynolds had three hits for the Pirates.

Adam Frazier tied the game with a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth. The Pirates began that inning with two outs and no one on base.

Kuhl made his first major league start in two years, striking out seven in four innings of work. He allowed one run and one hit, throwing 37 of his 58 pitches for strikes.

Kuhl left the game with a 4-1 lead, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it. Steven Brault started the fifth inning and did not retire any of the six batters he faced. Pirate pitching wound up walking in three runs while losing the lead in that fifth frame.

The Tigers had 12 hits in the contest. Christin Stewart, Jeimer Candelario and Victor Reyes combined for seven hits each for Detroit. That trio combined for five RBI and six runs scored as well.

Detroit (6-5) moved above .500 with the victory. The Pirates had 16 hits in defeat.

The teams resume their three-game series at 4:05 p.m. Saturday at PNC Park. Former Pirate Ivan Nova will start for Detroit against Derek Holland.