Final Score: Pirates 3 Twins 0
Why The Pirates Won: For the second time in 4 games the Pirate pitching staff threw a shutout. Mitch Keller went 6 innings not allowing a run on 7 hits, walking 2, striking out 8 while throwing 99 pitches. The last 2 innings were a bit shaky, but with some luck and a Twins base running blunder Keller survived, to maintain the shutout. The A team of the bullpen, Chapman, Holderman and Bednar finished up the game, giving up just one hit while walking no one. The offense was as anemic as ever mustering only 4 hits but all of them were extra base hits. Oneil Cruz and Connor Joe each had a home run with Bryan Reynolds getting 2 doubles. The 5 through 9 hitters did not get a hit led by DH Henry (Why Am I DHing) Davis with 3 strikeouts on 12 pitches. Pirates' management thinking, let's put our worse hitter on the team in the DH spot. Even Rawhide Rowdy would have been a better choice.
Key Moments Of The Game: Keller's last two innings could have been disastrous, but things went his way. In the top of the 5th with the score 2-0, the Twins loaded the bases on a single, a walk, and another single with one out. Keller struck out both Royce Lewis and Max Kepler with Kepler swinging at a 3-2 pitch that hit him. Whew! The top of the 6th started with Bryan Reynolds making a spectacular catch of a sinking line drive in left center field. Jose Miranda singled up middle. Bryan Buxton singled to left field with Miranda streaking for third. Bryan Reynolds then totally outfaked Buxton by looking like he was going to throw to third base but suddenly threw across his body toward second. Buxton by that time had made a huge turn at first base and got caught in a rundown making the second out. No question the play of the game. Carlos Santana hit a lazy fly ball to center to end the inning. The Twins in those 2 innings had 4 hits, a walk and failed to score. Very Pirate like.
Next Game: This afternoon, the Twins in Pittsburgh. Looks like the Pirates are going with the opener, starting with Carmon Mlodzinski. Hopefully Luis Ortiz will be the bulk guy but who knows. All I know is Henry Davis was seen praying never to be asked to DH again.
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