Spencer Horwitz drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Tommy Pham hit a solo home run for Pittsburgh, which ended an eight-game losing streak. Ke’Bryan Hayes went 2-for-4 and scored the go-ahead run.
Byron Buxton went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead Minnesota at the plate. The Twins finished their homestand with a 6-3 record despite dropping the final contest before the All-Star break.
Pirates right-hander Dennis Santana (3-2) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to pick up the victory.
Twins right-hander Jhoan Duran (5-4) gave up one run on three hits in one inning.
Pirates closer David Bednar pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save.
Pham started the scoring in the second. His 421-foot solo shot marked his fourth homer of the season and put the Pirates on top 1-0.
The Twins pulled even at 1-1 in the third. Buxton doubled to deep left field to drive in Harrison Bader from second.
The RBI double capped off a big weekend for Buxton, who hit for the cycle on Saturday afternoon. His next stop is the All-Star Game in his home state of Georgia.
The Pirates broke through in the ninth. They hit three singles to load the bases with one out for Horwitz, who hit into a groundout but allowed Hayes to sprint across the plate for the go-ahead run.
Pittsburgh shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa finished 4-for-4. All of his hits were singles.
-Field Level Media
