Pirates bounce back against Twins, win 6-2 taken in Minneapolis (Pirates)

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Todd Frazier and Gregory Polanco celebrate after scoring in the second inning of Saturday's win over the Twins.

MINNEAPOLIS -- After being one-hit the night before, the Pirates were looking for someone to step up on offense for game two.

The hitter who answered the call was backup catcher Michael Peréz, who homered and had three hits to lead the Pirates to a 6-2 win over the Twins at Target Field Saturday.

After the Twins gave the Pirates a run and a free out on a throwing error by Jorge Polanco in the top of the second, Peréz roped a two-run double into the gap in right to put the Pirates ahead by three. In the fifth, he and Kevin Newman went back-to-back, marking the first time the Pirates have had consecutive home runs this season.

Peréz went 3-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs.

Pirates starter Trevor Cahill broke out of his early season slump to deliver a quality start, going six innings of one run ball. He walked two and gave up two hits in the second inning, but after escaping the bases loaded jam, he did not allow another baserunner on the afternoon.

The Twins had a chance to get back in the game late after left fielder Phillip Evans misread and subsequently dropped a pop fly in the eighth, which gave them two on, one out and the heart of the order up.

Kyle Crick was brought in to get out of the jam and was efficient. Josh Donaldson popped a sac fly to center, and then he got Nelson Cruz to go down looking on three pitches.

Duane Underwood Jr. allowed one unearned run over 1 ⅓ innings, striking out three. Richard Rodriguez threw a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.

Cahill picked up the first win of his Pirates career to improve to 1-2. Twins starter Michael Pineda (1-1) allowed five runs, four earned, over 4 ⅓ innings.

The Pirates will conclude their 10-day road trip Sunday with a rubber match against the Twins. Matt Shoemaker (1-1, 6.28) will go for the Twins. The Pirates have not announced a starter.

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