What looked like a classic pitchers’ duel before the game took some twists and turns on Friday, with one ace looking rock-solid, but losing, and another ace struggling early, but winning.
When all of the weather-delayed action was over, the Minnesota Twins gave up the field in favor of a postgame Nelly concert and escaped to their clubhouse with a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series.
Minnesota All-Star hurler Joe Ryan (9-4) had to work through the first two innings as his pitch count climbed. He fell behind in the fourth inning, but got bailed out by just enough offense. Pittsburgh right-hander Paul Skenes (4-8) looked untouchable for three innings, only to surrender a Trevor Larnach homer in the fourth which won the game.
Jhoan Duran got the final three outs for his 15th save of the season as the Twins improved to 5-2 on their current homestand. With the potential tying run on second in the ninth, Duran struck out Isiah Kiner-Falefa to end the game.
Ryan escaped the first inning without allowing a run, but only after giving up a walk and a pair of hits, which loaded the bases. The second hit was a hard shot back to the mound by Oneil Cruz that deflected off Ryan’s glove and was credited as an infield single. Trainers gave Ryan a cursory glance, but he stayed in the game. His 34th pitch of the frame got Ke’Byran Hayes to pop out to second, ending the threat.
By contrast, Skenes threw a dozen first inning pitches and struck out the Twins’ side. He needed just 33 pitches to retire the first nine Twins he faced in order.
The Pirates put runners on base in each of the first four innings, and broke through with two outs in the fourth. Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s double to right rolled all the way to the warning track, and the throw beat Spencer Horwitz at the plate, but Twins catcher Christian Vasquez could not field the ball cleanly.
The second time through the order went notably better for the Twins, who got an infield single from Byron Buxton, and they took the lead two batters later when Larnach dropped his 13th home run of the season into the front row of seats in right center.
Skenes was lifted after five innings, having allowed five hits and recording six strikeouts. Ryan, who was named to his first All-Star Game this week, also went five innings, allowing five hits while striking out five.
Minnesota’s Danny Coulombe, Brock Stewart, Louis Varland and Griffin Jax pitched in relief to get the game to Duran.
Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, who singled in the sixth, had to leave the game an inning later with an apparent leg injury.
Tommy Pham, batting for the Pirates with one out, hit a line drive off the top of the wall in right field. DaShawn Keirsey, Jr., played the carom perfectly and fired to second as Pham tried to stretch for a double. Correa applied the tag for the out, but Pham’s helmet hit Correa’s right leg, which was planted on the bag. Correa rolled to the ground in immediate pain, and was helped off the field.
His injury was officially classified as a mild right ankle sprain by the Twins. The crowd of 40,100 was the Twins’ first sellout of the season.
Game 2 of the series is Saturday at 1:10 p.m., with Pittsburgh right-hander Mike Burrows pitching for the visitors. The Twins had not named a starter as of Friday night.
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