Diaz homer lifts Pirates over Twins
Elias Diaz homered in Pittsburgh’s four-run sixth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates overcame an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the Minnesota Twins 9-3 in a spring training game Sunday in Fort Myers, Fla.
Pittsburgh pitcher Jameson Taillon allowed a pair of runs and did not record a strikeout. At one point he retired seven consecutive batters.
Trailing 3-1 entering the sixth inning, the Pirates’ Josh Harrison reached on an infield hit and a Gregory Polanco single put runners on first and third. Colin Moran’s bloop single scored Harrison and cut Minnesota’s lead to 3-2.
Diaz hit a three-run homer to left field, his first homer of the spring, to put Pittsburgh ahead 5-3.
Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozierhad a pair of doubles, and Joe Mauer knocked in two runs with a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice in the first and third innings.
Annibal Sanchez, who the Twins signed in late February, struck out four in two innings but gave up six earned runs on five hits.