Pirates Fall 6-4 To Twins, Lose Third Straight
Follow KDKA-TV: Facebook | Twitter
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Logan Forsythe had three RBIs, the Minnesota bullpen tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings and the Twins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 on Wednesday.
Oliver Drake, Gabriel Moya (3-0), Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers scattered five hits and struck out three before Trevor Hildenberger picked up his third save in four chances.
Minnesota is 16-4 in its last 20 home games.
Josh Harrison had three hits for the Pirates, who have lost three straight. Pittsburgh began the day five games out in the NL wild-card race.
Forsythe's two-run single off reliever Edgar Santana (2-2) highlighted a three-run sixth as the Twins took a 5-4 lead. Bobby Wilson homered in the seventh.
After allowing two runs in the second inning, Pirates starter Chris Archer retired 10 straight batters before giving up back-to-back singles, including an RBI by Jorge Polanco, to start the sixth, ending his day.
Acquired from Tampa Bay July 31, Archer allowed four earned runs on six hits in five-plus innings. In his first three starts as a Pirate, Archer has allowed nine earned runs in 14 1/3 innings.
Minnesota starter Jose Berrios allowed four runs - three earned - as he labored through 3 2/3 innings, his shortest start since April 29.
After a 1-2-3 first, Pittsburgh had at least two runners on in three straight innings, with a two-run single by Gregory Polanco putting the Pirates up 4-2 in the fourth. Elias Diaz homered to start the inning.
Berrios has allowed nine earned runs in 12 2/3 innings in three August starts.
ROUGH DAY
Pittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli was hit by a pitch for a team-high 11th time in the second inning. One inning later, he fouled a ball off his foot - and took a minute to walk it off - before striking out on a called third strike at the knees. He briefly jumped up and down and said a few words to umpire Doug Eddings.
In the fifth, Cervelli tagged Joe Mauer on what he thought was a third strike and took a couple of steps to the dugout. However, Eddings called it a ball, leading to another discussion.
WEST IS SECOND BEST
Umpire Joe West worked his 5,164th career game, passing Bruce Froemming for second all time. Bill Klem worked 5,375.
TRAINERS ROOM
Pirates: CF Starling Marte missed the game with an illness. . SS Jordy Mercer, who left Tuesday's came with left calf discomfort, did not play. . Pittsburgh hopes to have RHP Chad Kuhl, out since June 26 with a right forearm strain, begin a throwing program during its seven-game homestand that starts Thursday. He's eligible to return Aug. 26.
Twins: OF Robbie Grossman, on the disabled list since Aug. 6 with a right hamstring strain, will go to Triple-A Rochester on a rehab assignment. The plan is for him to DH Thursday, then play a couple of games in the outfield before being re-evaluated.
UP NEXT
Pirates: Host division-leading Chicago to PNC Park on Thursday to begin a four-game seriesm with RHP Ivan Nova (7-6, 4.42) scheduled to start the opener.
Twins: RHP Ervin Santana (0-1, 6.53) takes to the hill Thursday when Minnesota opens a four-game home series against Detroit.
(© Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)