Gerrit Cole, starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates got his first decision of the year. Home Opener. Cole (1-0) allowed only two baserunners in his first six innings of work. He struck out four consecutive batters between the third and fourth innings and finished with eight on the day. He did this against a lineup that led the majors in runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage after a 6-0 start.

PITTSBURGH — The Detroit Tiger bats were the hottest in baseball. The Pirates left it to Gerrit Cole to put out the fire.

Good choice.

The 24-year-old right-hander limited Detroit to three hits over six innings Monday, striking out eight in a masterful performance at PNC Park.

“Detroit is playing as big as any lineup in the major leagues right now,” Pirate manager Clint Hurdle said. “Gerrit had command of his fastball and when he’s got that, he’s dynamic.

“I’ve seen him this good before. I’ll see him this good again.”

The Tigers entered the game with a major league-best .355 team batting average. They averaged eight runs per game in getting off to a 6-0 start.

Cole breezed through the first six innings, allowing only one hit and two baserunners. A single, walk and single by the middle of Detroit’s lineup — Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez and Yoenis Cespedes — loaded the bases in the seventh and chased him.

“He didn’t get a couple of calls there that might have changed the inning,” Hurdle said. “They (Tigers) probably didn’t get calls as well. You just play the game.

“Gerrit wants to be a master craftsman on the mound. You saw that through six innings today.”

When asked if he felt the plate umpire was squeezing him in the seventh, Cole wouldn’t go there.

“Once the ball leaves my hand, it’s out of my control,” he said.

The Tiger bats seemingly had no control over it, either.

“Down, down, down, down ... I can’t say that word enough against that lineup,” Cole said. “That was our thinking all day. We’d move the ball inside and outside, but always wanted it down in the zone.

“That’s what was working.”

When a fastball pushing 100 miles per hour is working, everything else follows suit.

“When he’s putting that (fastball) where he wants to, all of his other pitches just play,” Hurdle said. “The slider and curve become that much more effective.”

Cole continues to mature as a major league pitcher. Part of that is being able to perform amidst the pageantry of Opening Day.

“Just focus on my routine, pregame, and prepare to do battle,” Cole said. “My routine is getting ahead of hitters and feeding off that first pitch.”

He feasted off it Monday.

“There was a lot of emotion and excitement coming into this game,” Cole said. “It was nice to be able to get on track early. That team can hit.”