Pirates break eight-game slide to edge Twins

Spencer Horwitz drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Tommy Pham hit a solo home run for Pittsburgh, which ended an eight-game losing streak. Ke’Bryan Hayes went 2-for-4 and scored the go-ahead run.
Byron Buxton went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI to lead Minnesota at the plate. The Twins finished their homestand with a 6-3 record despite dropping the final contest before the All-Star break.
Pirates right-hander Dennis Santana (3-2) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to pick up the victory.
Twins right-hander Jhoan Duran (5-4) gave up one run on three hits in one inning.k
Pirates closer David Bednar pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save.
Pham started the scoring in the second. His 421-foot solo shot marked his fourth homer of the season and put the Pirates on top 1-0.
The Twins pulled even at 1-1 in the third. Buxton doubled to deep left field to drive in Harrison Bader from second.
The RBI double capped off a big weekend for Buxton, who hit for the cycle on Saturday afternoon. His next stop is the All-Star Game in his home state of Georgia.
The Pirates broke through in the ninth. They loaded the bases with one out for Horwitz, who hit into a groundout but allowed Hayes to sprint across the plate for the go-ahead run.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa finished 4-for-4. All of his hits were singles.