PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For the first time since 2015, the Pirates last playoff year, the Pirates won three series on the same road trip. Finishing two of three wins in Minnesota with a 6-2 victory.
"That was a good road trip," said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. "We played well. We played well all the way around. Gonzo makes an unbelievable play going down the line on a foul ball. Crowe got the typical line drive double play that you are looking for in the first to get out of it. Just some timely hitting. Bullpen was good again. Stratton giving us two innings, Bednar coming in at the end. Overall, we played well on this trip."
Pirates got a pair of runs on a few shot contact hits including a Bryan Reynolds bloop RBI double and a Colin Moran sac fly to make it 2-0. Twins would get a run in the first, as Shelton mentioned, Wil Crowe helped by a liner back to him that he turned into a double play.
Kevin Newman and Adam Frazier would single home runs and Reynolds with another RBI double. Gregory Polanco would end the Pirates scoring with a home run.
Pirates bullpen threw five innings with only Chris Stratton giving up a home run. Clay Holmes, Sam Howard, Stratton and David Bednar gave up 3 hits, all by Stratton, the run and combined for 8 strikeouts.
The team that looked horrible during an early six game losing streak, comes home back at .500.
Crowe first
It was the first time Crowe had his family at a MLB game and ended up giving up a run over four innings striking out three. His mom, dad and wife were at the game, all live in the south and all were prepared for the cold.
"It was awesome," Crowe said. "It was the first time in the big leagues that my family could watch. I got to see them after the game. It was good to have some family in the stands and have that time with them."
It was a little dicey to start, giving up a pair of singles to the first two batters.
"Felt like early I was trying to get back in the swing of things," Crowe said. "(Then got into) not trying to do too much, just get guys out."
"As the game went on we saw the execution of pitches, which was good," Shelton said. "Early on it looked like he was trying to find his footing a little bit. Obviously, he got the double play on the line drive, which helped us out a ton. I thought in the third and the fourth inning the execution of pitches was really good."
The double play came on a ball hit by Plum native Alex Kirilloff that Crowe snagged just below belt-high by his leg.
"That was a big momentum swing for me," Crowe said. "When I let it go I knew it wasn't the best pitch. So I was ready. Just glad it didn't hit me."
His hobby in his spare time may have helped him make the play.
"I just tried to use some type of reaction," Crowe said. "Probably all the video games I play gave my hand a little swing of momentum."
Polanco HR
Polanco homered and went 3 for 4 with a RBI and a pair of runs scored. It's a three game hitting streak for the Pirates right fielder. It boost his average over .200 for the first time this season.
"We have to continue to build on consistent at bats," Shelton said. "I thought he had really good at bats today. I thought the homer he absolutely crushed. Put the ball in play, have good at bats. When he does that balls fall and all of a sudden things start to get the ball rolling."
Up Next
Tyler Andersons starts as the Pirates are home against the Royals Tuesday night at 6:35 on 93.7 The Fan.
