3 homers help power Pirates to a 10-9 win over Twins

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 30, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — After a six-run second inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates appeared ready to cruise to a blowout win.

They didn’t make it easy, but they clinched a series victory anyway.

The Pirates defeated the Minnesota Twins, 10-9, on Saturday evening at PNC Park, taking the first two games of the series despite blowing an early six-run lead. Spencer Horwitz, Jake Mangum and Oneil Cruz all homered in the victory.

Mangum finished the game 3 for 4 with a homer, a bunt single, a stolen base, two runs scored and two RBIs. The second-inning homer was his first as a Pirate.

Horwitz opened the scoring with a solo homer on the second pitch from Twins right-hander Bailey Ober. It’s his third career leadoff homer and second of the season, following one on the first pitch last Saturday in Toronto.

The Pirates did their real damage against Ober in the second. Mangum started the six-run frame with a solo homer off Ober, then the team continued to pile on. Nick Gonzales brought in two runs with a bases-loaded single, then Cruz followed him with a three-run homer into the Twins bullpen in right-center field.

With a 7-1 lead after two innings and Mitch Keller on the mound, it felt like the game was decided. But Keller couldn’t hold the lead.

The Twins, who scored a run in the second and third innings, tied the game at 7-7 with a five-run fourth. Tristan Gray had a two-run double, followed by a two-run single from Josh Bell and Kody Clemens’ RBI single. Clemens finished a homer away from the cycle.

In total, Keller allowed seven runs, all earned, on 10 hits and a walk. He struck out five.

The Pirates broke the tie in the fifth on an RBI single from Mangum, scoring Konnor Griffin from second. Third base coach Tony Beasley had a very aggressive send on a grounder fielded in shallow left, and Griffin’s speed beat the throw home.

The Pirates tacked on two more in the seventh on RBI singles from Jared Triolo and a Bryan Reynolds sacrifice fly. Reynolds, a day after his walk-off homer, went 2 for 2 with a run, two walks and the sac fly.

It was over when …

The Pirates escaped in the eighth. The bullpen was steady in relief until Mason Montgomery had a rare bad outing, allowing two singles (including Byron Buxton’s hit off the Clemente Wall) and two walks to bring in two runs. Gregory Soto got the final out of the eighth, stranding runners on second and third to protect a one-run lead.

Soto walked a batter in the ninth but got Luke Keaschall to fly out for the save.

On the mound

It was the first time Keller had allowed seven runs since last year’s home opener, a 9-4 loss to the New York Yankees. He hadn’t allowed double-digit hits since giving up 11 to the Cleveland Guardians in a 6-1 loss on Sept. 1, 2024.

But the bullpen, for the second consecutive game, kept the Pirates alive. Yohan Ramirez, Evan Sisk and Dennis Santana combined for three hitless innings, striking out five. Montgomery struggled, but Soto was able to do enough.

Despite Keller’s short start, Carmen Mlodzinski was not used in the game.

At the plate

The Pirates finished with 15 hits. Ober somehow survived the six-run second, facing the minimum in the third and fourth innings before he was finally chased in the fifth. In 4 2/3 innings, he allowed 12 hits and eight runs, seven earned.

Gonzales had three hits. Horwitz and Mangum scored twice, with every hitter except Triolo scoring a run.

Bucs bites

— Brandon Lowe was ejected in the fourth inning by first base umpire Jordan Baker. Lowe attempted to challenge a called strike, but was not granted the challenge. It’s the first ejection of Lowe’s nine-year major league career.

— Konnor Griffin started at designated hitter for the second consecutive game and went 2 for 5 with a double. He is not yet cleared to throw as he deals with a low grade muscle strain in his right forearm.

— The Pirates seem likely to get some positive injury news soon. Ryan O’Hearn could return from his right quad strain as soon as Sunday’s series finale.

Up next

The Pirates and Twins will conclude their three-game series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET. Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.75 ERA) will pitch for the Pirates against Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews (1-2, 2.37).

____