Cahill, Perez Lead Pirates To 6-2 Win, Even Series

Today's Game: Mike Pineda tossed a clean first frame, as did Trevor Cahill, a good sign as he's had some opening inning issues. The Bucs out runners at second and third with an out in the second thx to an Erik Gonzalez rap and Gregory Polanco double. Todd Frazier bounced one to short that was tossed awry (the errant play was to first, so he got his first Pittsburgh RBI) to make it 1-0 Buccos, and it hurt the Twinkies even more when Michael Perez's two-bagger sent both runners home. More damage was averted when Bryon Buxton took away a two-out hit from Adam Frazier. Cahill had trouble finding the third out. With two away, a walk, single and double plated a run for Minny; a four-pitch walk then loaded the sacks before he escaped. Pittsburgh went down 1-2-3 in the third and fourth frames, and ditto for the Twin Cities. 

Trevor has something to crow about today - image 2021 AT&T SportsNet

The fifth was a different tale; Perez and Kevin Newman banged consecutive homers (Perez's on an 0-2 count) to make the count 5-1. Phil Evans walked and Bryan Reynolds added a rap with an out, then Devin Smeltzer took over and calmed things down. Trevor celebrated with a pair of whiffs. With an out in the sixth, Toddfather was bopped in the foot, Perez dropped in a single, and they moved up a base when the throw to the infield got away. A K-Man sac fly plated another Bucco. Trevor kept cruisin' - he's retired 13 straight Twins. The second pitch of the seventh nicked Phil the Thrill, but a 6-4-3 DP and grounder quieted the waters. Duane Underwood got the ball (Cahill had tossed 88 times) and kept the streak going with a pair of punchouts. Smeltzer spun a six-pitch eighth. A leadoff double and a one-out drop by Evans in LF presented Minny with runners at second and third. That brought on Kyle Crick, who gave up a sac fly before capping the inning with the score 6-2. The Pirates worked a leadoff walk but raised no further ruckus. Richard Rodriguez had his usual calm closing. Raise it.

Trevor Cahill goes six innings and gives up a run on two hits. The bottom five pick up the top four, scoring and driving in all six runs. See if your grandkids will believe that...  

Notes:

• Michael Perez broke out of his slump bigly, with three hits & a walk, three RBI and finishing a triple short of the cycle. The Toddfather was hitless and still manage to score twice.
• The Twins again tamed the top of the Bucco order - hitters 1-4 went 1-for-16 with six whiffs.
• Ex-Bucco Happ took a no-hitter into the eighth yesterday; the last Twin no-no was by another guy with a Pirates pedigree, Frankie Liriano, in 2011.

Tomorrow's Game: The finale is at 2:10 and will be on AT&T SportsNet & 93.7 The Fan. The Twins will send out RHP Matt Shoemaker, with the Bucco hurler TBD. The Bucs have Monday off and then will face the Royals in a short two-game set at PNC Park.