Before this game started, the Minnesota Twins placed SP Bailey Ober on the IL with elbow inflammation (this being just two days after the same fate befell Kendry Rojas). Byron Buxton was also not in the starting nine this afternoon in support of Zebby Matthews.
It all proved too much to overcome as the Twins were swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates today to officially lose every ounce of momentum/optimism from last weekend’s sweep of the Red Sox in Boston.
Perhaps unsurprisingly considering the mood of
the morning, the Pirates struck first at PNC. In the bottom of the second inning, a Ryan O’Hearn homer started the scoring and the Buccos weren’t done yet. After a walk, a hit, and a stolen base, Jared Triolo’s base knock brought Oneil Cruz across home plate. 2-0 PIT.
As MN bats continued to be stymied by PIT SP Braxton Ashcraft, the Bucs extended their lead to 4-0 in B3 off a two-run bomb from Nick Gonzales.
The yellow and black were back in B5, with Spencer Horowitz doubling and coming home on a Brandon Lowe single. This chased Zebby from the bump and brought in new call-up Mike Paredes. After a walk to load the bases, Paredes free-passed another Buc to let the merry-go-round spin. A Mangum sac fly scored another safety, which was quickly followed by a two-run base knock from Henry Davis. 9-0 PIT.
The Twins finally dented Ashcraft in T6 when Alex Jackson singled and came around to score on a Brooks Lee bomb into the RF bleachers. 9-2 PIT.
The score wouldn’t change again until T9 when Lee again put one out of the field of play.
But it was far too little, far too late to salvage anything on the banks of the Allegheny River.
Your Final: Pittsburgh Pirates 9, Minnesota Twins 3
Hard to know what to say as the month of May comes to a close. Every time this team makes a push towards .500, injuries barge their way in and make the way forward seem impossible.
Zach’s Zealot
- Lee: HR provided the only scoring for the visitors.
Zach’s Zombie
- The general vibes around this club right now. Just wretched. All optimism of being one game under .500 five scant days ago has dissipated as quickly as the elbow ligaments of various MN hurlers.
Egg-cellent Elocution
- Matt Monitto expressing a desire to have stayed amongst the windmills and obstacles of the mini-golf course instead of checking in on this contest.
Who’s Got Next
- The longest road trip of the year finally comes to an end with the Chicago White Sox coming into Target Field for a three-game set (Mon. night, Tues. night, Wed. afternoon).
