Josh Willingham helps Minnesota Twins edge Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 – MLB Pirates
Minnesota Twins bounced back strongly as they edged Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, June 20 in the second game of their three match series of the 2012 Major League Baseball regular season.
Josh Willingham, once again, showed just what he is capable of as he powered the Twins to only their second win in seven games. The right hander hit a tie breaking home run in the eighth inning to help his team level series 1-1.
Twins’ left fielder Willingham is a having a decent time on the plate this season. So far, he has averaging .279 with the bat with 14 home runs and 46 RBI’s.
"It's probably the most obvious call in the clubhouse is, 'Willingham's going to hit a homer,' and they're all taking credit," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "He's the one guy who walks up there and he's swinging for it. He can juice a baseball,
he can pull a baseball. And I called that one too."
Trevor Plouffe also made a useful contribution as he singled to right centre in the first inning and Willingham scored to put the Twins 1-0 ahead in the first inning. Rod Barajas brought the Pirates back into the game with a sacrifice fly to centre in the
seventh inning, levelling score 1-1.
Pirates’ reliever Jason Grilli took his third loss of the season after he was hit for a home run in the eighth inning. Minnesota’s starting pitcher Francisco Liriano pitched with great control and precision as he gave up only four hits and one run in six
plus innings.
Relief pitcher Jared Burton secured his first win of the season, pitching a scoreless eighth inning.
"I feel fine, I feel more consistent with my delivery, throwing more strikes," Francisco Liriano said.
"He was tracking that ball the whole way whether it was going to get to the ground or not," Gardenhire said. "It was hooking the whole way."
Closer Glen Perkins made his first save of the year, striking out two batters in one perfect inning. It will be interesting to see if the Twins can flatten the Pirates in series’ finale.
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