The compilation of follies committed in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s matinee game between the Twins and Pirates is all that’s needed to sum up another loss for the reeling Twins.
Final score: Pirates 10, Twins 4
Final: #Pirates 10, #MNTwins 4: Santana allows 8 runs (6 ER) over 5 2/3 IP. Twins commit 3 errors. Hicks goes 3-for-5. Swept in 2-game set.
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) July 29, 2015
Tied 3-3 in the sixth, the Twins fell apart. With runners at first and third and one out, Ervin Santana threw a wild pitch that allowed Pedro Alvarez to score, giving the Pirates a 4-3 lead. And then it got worse. Here’s what happened.
- Santana walked Ishikawa
- Santana walked Decker
- Pittsburgh scored on a sacrifice fly
- Andrew McCutchen singled to right, driving in a run
- The ball bounced over Eddie Rosario’s glove
- Eduardo Nunez collided with McCutchen
- McCutchen was awarded home and scored
This play was a hot mess pic.twitter.com/AnSsoXL8Y2
— Cody Christie (@NoDakTwinsFan) July 29, 2015
Just like that the Pirates took a commanding 8-3 lead and cruised to the victory and the two-game sweep at Target Field.
Santana allowed 8 runs (6 earned) on 8 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked 4 and struck out 3.
Ex-Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano improved to 7-6 on the season with the win. He allowed 3 runs on 10 hits while striking out 4 in 5 2/3 innings.
Minnesota (52-48) has lost eight of 11 games since the All-Star break and its lead over Baltimore for the second wild-card seed is down to one-and-a-half games. The Orioles can cut it to a single game with a win over the Braves later Wednesday.
Up next: Twins begin a four-game series against the Mariners at Target Field on Thursday. Timberwolves rookie Tyus Jones of Apple Valley will throw out the first pitch, according to CBS.
