DETROIT -- With Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez unavailable Tuesday night, manager Clint Hurdle turned to veteran setup man Keone Kela to close out the game.

It didn’t work. But then again, it didn’t cost them the game, either.

Starling Marte hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the 10th inning to help the Bucs bounce back to beat the Tigers, 5-3, at Comerica Park after blowing a one-run lead in the ninth inning.

It was the fourth straight appearance in which Kela has allowed at least one earned run, and it marked the fifth blown save in 10 opportunities by the Pirates’ bullpen. It also erased a solid start from Joe Musgrove, who worked seven innings of two-run ball.

“I know the reason why I came over was to be a shutdown guy,” Kela said. “And I haven’t been shutting it down.”

For Kela, the blown save continued a troublesome month for the veteran reliever, who converted 24 of 25 save opportunities last season with the Rangers before being acquired by the Bucs.

The 26-year-old righty has struggled mightily in the early going. Kela enters Wednesday’s game having allowed three home runs in eight appearances after having given up a total of five in 2018.

“[Kela] is going through a real tough time right now,” Musgrove said. “This is something that he’s done for a long time and has had a lot of success. This is the first time he’s been hit with a little road bump and has had some struggles.”

In many ways, the Pirates’ ability to bounce back after a late-inning collapse showed off the team’s grit and tenacity. But the Bucs’ extra-inning win also highlighted Kela's struggles.

“I know that I can do it. I’ve done it. I’m not really necessarily worried about it,” Kela said. “But at the end of the day, when you get to playoff baseball, this stuff doesn’t fly.”

Kela gave up a leadoff double to Christin Stewart in the ninth before giving up a game-tying single to Jeimer Candelario. A wild pitch allowed Candelario to reach second, putting the game-winning run in scoring position. But Kela retired the next three batters in order to force extra innings.

“I think where he struggles the most is feeling like he’s letting his teammates down,” Musgrove said. “We’re just trying to explain to him that it’s something that you keep working at. Keep moving forward and have a positive mentality.

“Tomorrow could be the day he goes out and starts a 30-inning scoreless streak. I think the more he hangs onto those negative outings, the more it could build.”

Hurdle acknowledged that Kela has hit a few road blocks in the early going this season, but he was pleased in how he was able to get JaCoby Jones to ground out to end the ninth with the potential winning run on second. That’s the sign of a veteran reliever, Hurdle said.

“He was able to settle in and get some work done, and finish some people off,” Hurdle said. “He’s still working. He wants to do better.”

Hurdle was quick to give Kela a vote of confidence when asked if he will continue to feel comfortable putting him in high-leverage situations moving forward.

“Yes, I’m comfortable,” Hurdle said. “We’re going to look for opportunities to give him the ball.”

Kela, meanwhile, was unwilling to take away any positives after Tuesday’s appearance.

“I know there was a reason for me to come over here,” Kela said, “and it wasn’t definitely for me to do what I’ve been displaying.”

Still, Hurdle remains confident Kela, who proved to be a reliable late-inning reliever for the Pirates late last season, will find his groove and eventually, and successfully, fill the high-leverage role he was intended to fill.

“I tip my hat to him. They got one, they didn’t get any more,” Hurdle said. “They get another one and the game’s over. We’re in here talking an entire different story.”