Pirates keep series streak going, beat Twins, 6-2 taken in Minneapolis (Pirates)

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Colin Moran catches a foul ball Sunday in Minneapolis.

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Pirates are heading back to Pittsburgh after their three city road trip with three series wins.

The Pirates took the rubber match against the Twins Sunday at Target Field, jumping out ahead early and breaking it open late in a 6-2 decision.

The offense strung together three consecutive hits and a sacrifice fly against Matt Shoemaker to open, but fell into a lull until the seventh. There, Kevin Newman, Adam Frazier and Bryan Reynolds each lined RBI runs, adding some much-needed breathing room.

Gregory Polanco added an insurance run in the eighth with a 419-foot home run to right.

Wil Crowe made his first start for the Pirates, going four innings of one run ball. That one run came in the first, and the Twins were threatening to add more, but Alex Kirilloff lined it right into Crowe’s glove. He then tossed it to first to get out of a jam.

Crowe allowed four hits and two walks and struck out three. He also got some help from Erik Gonzalez with an impressive stop at third base on a well-hit ball from Josh Donaldson during the bottom of the third:

The Pirates’ bullpen took it from there, going five innings with only a solo shot from Chris Stratton to Nelson Cruz against them. Clay Holmes got four outs, Sam Howard closed out the sixth and Stratton struck out four over two frames. 

David Bednar closed things out in the ninth with a pair of strikeouts and a grounder.

Reynolds went 2-for-4 with a pair of run-scoring doubles. Polanco and Frazier both had three hits and an RBI.

With the win, the Pirates reached .500 (11-11) for the first time since the second game of the season.

Before the game, the Pirates optioned right-hander Geoff Hartlieb to the alternate site to add Crowe from the taxi squad.

The Pirates are off Monday, and will play host to the Royals for a two-game series Tuesday. Tyler Anderson (2-2, 3.92) will take the hill against Jakob Junis (1-0, 3.71), with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

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