Pirates 10, Twins 4
MINNEAPOLIS -- A five-run sixth inning busted open a tie game as the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a two-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 10-4 win at Target Field on Wednesday afternoon.
Pittsburgh has won three straight games and improved to 59-41 on the season. The win total is second in the National League and third in baseball.
The Twins (52-48), clinging to the second wild-card spot in the American League, have lost four consecutive games and are 3-7 since returning from the All-Star break.
Minnesota has held a lead in all four recent losses, including 3-1 heading to the fifth inning Wednesday.
But a two-run homer by Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen turned the tide. McCutchen's blast over the wall in left field with two outs tied the score at 3-3 and set the stage for the knockout blow one inning later.
Unable to grab the lead back despite putting two on with one out in the bottom of the fifth, the Twins fumbled the game away in the sixth, committing a pair of errors that led to five runs.
Pirates second baseman Neil Walker led off the inning with a walk and was thrown out on a fielder's choice grounder by designated hitter Pedro Alvarez. A double off the wall in right by catcher Francisco Cervelli put a pair of runners in scoring position, and Alvarez scored on a wild pitch by Twins right-hander Ervin Santana.
Santana then walked back-to-back hitters to load the bases for left fielder Starling Marte, who hit a sacrifice fly to left to make it 5-3.
McCutchen followed with a sharp single to right that skipped under the glove of Minnesota's Eddie Rosario and rolled to the wall, scoring two. Rosario's throw to third rolled under the glove of third baseman Eduardo Nunez, and McCutchen was awarded home on an interference call.
Santana's second Target Field start in a Twins uniform was just as bad as his first; he allowed eight runs (six earned) on eight hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three, but he allowed two homers and threw a wild pitch.
Santana (2-1) has allowed 14 runs (12 earned) in two home starts over 9 2/3 innings (13.70 ERA). He has given up just two runs in three road starts over 23 2/3 innings (0.78 ERA).
Former Twin Francisco Liriano (7-6) pitched well enough for the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on 10 hits while walking none and striking out four over 5 2/3 innings. His seven victories this season match his total from a year ago.
Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang had three hits, including a solo home run in the second inning. McCutchen, Walker and Cervelli each finished with two hits.
Twins center fielder Aaron Hicks had three hits and has multi-hit efforts in four consecutive games.
NOTES: Pirates LF Starling Marte returned to the lineup, batting in the No. 2 spot. He missed Tuesday's game because of illness. ... Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe was placed on the paternity list prior to the start of the game. Plouffe's wife Olivia will give birth to a son on Wednesday. ... Twins SS Jorge Polanco was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to take Plouffe's roster spot. Polanco has a hit and a walk in four plate appearances with Minnesota this season. ... Pittsburgh will open a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday at Great American Ballpark. ... Minnesota will continue its homestand, opening a four-game series with the Seattle Mariners at Target Field on Thursday.