The Pittsburgh Pirates won the rubber match of their three-game interleague series with the Minnesota Twins, with a 9-1 win at PNC Park on Thursday night.
The Pirates flexed their muscle at the plate while right-handed pitcher James McDonald pitched a complete game, scattering six hits with five strikeouts and no walks to earn the win.
On the other side, Minnesota starting pitcher Liam Hendriks remained winless on the season, losing his fourth game. The young right-hander was chased from the game in the sixth inning after giving up a two-run homer to Pirates catcher Rod Barajas. Center fielder Andrew McCutcheon had another big night for Pittsburgh with three hits, including a base-clearing double in the second inning to jump-start the Pirates big offensive night.
The loss dropped the Twins to 27-41 on the season as they continue their interleague tour of the NL Central on Friday when they begin a weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds.
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