Rowdy Tellez broke a scoreless tie with a solo homer and singled in two runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates shutout the Minnesota Twins for the second straight game, winning 4-0 in the middle game of a three-game interleague series on Saturday.
Six Pirates pitchers combined on the six-hit shutout, including Justin Bruihl, Hunter Stratton (2-1), Colin Holderman and David Bednar.
Luis Ortiz followed opener Carmen Mlodzinski and threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings for Pittsburgh, which has won five of its last seven. The Pirates have recorded three shutouts in their last five games, including a 3-0 win in Friday’s series opener.
Minnesota lost its fifth straight and saw its scoreless streak reach 22 innings.
Tellez put the Pirates ahead with a one-out homer in the seventh inning against Simeon Woods Richardson (2-1). The 403-foot blast to center was Tellez’s second homer this season and first since March 31.
McCutchen snapped out of a 3-for-20 slump with three singles for Pittsburgh, which added three runs in the eighth inning. Bryan Reynolds added a pair of singles.
The Pirates put two runners on against Jhoan Duran with two outs in the eighth before Tellez singled in two runs. Diego Castillo replaced Duran and walked Yasmani Grandal before giving up a run-scoring single to Michael A. Taylor.
Minnesota grounded into three double plays, including in the third inning when Trevor Larnach hit into a double play with two runners on before Carlos Correa grounded out.
Woods Richardson was relieved by Jorge Alcala with one out in the seventh inning after Grandal followed Tellez’s homer by reaching safely on a throwing error.
Alcala kept it a one-run game by striking out Reynolds after Taylor grounded into a fielder’s choice and McCutchen singled to put runners at the corners.
Woods Richardson allowed one run on six hits with six strikeouts while throwing 97 pitches over a career–high 6 1/3 innings.
Second baseman Nick Gonzales made a pair of stellar defensive plays for the Pirates, who won despite going 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
–Field Level Media