, Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers scattered five hits and struck out three before Trevor Hildenberger picked up his third save in four chances.Minnesota is 16-4 in its last 20 home games.Josh Harrison had three hits for the Pirates, who have lost three straight. Pittsburgh began the day five games out in the NL wild-card race.Forsythe's two-run single off reliever Edgar Santana (2-2) highlighted a three-run sixth as the Twins took a 5-4 lead. Bobby Wilson homered in the seventh.After allowing two runs in the second inning, Pirates starter Chris Archer retired 10 straight batters before giving up back-to-back singles, including an RBI by Jorge Polanco, to start the sixth, ending his day.Acquired from Tampa Bay July 31, Archer allowed four earned runs on six hits in five-plus innings. In his first three starts as a Pirate, Archer has allowed nine earned runs in 14 1/3 innings.Minnesota starter Jose Berrios allowed four runs - three earned - as he labored through 3 2/3 innings, his shortest start since April 29.After a 1-2-3 first, Pittsburgh had at least two runners on in three straight innings, with a two-run single by Gregory Polanco putting the Pirates up 4-2 in the fourth. Elias Diaz homered to start the inning.Berrios has allowed nine earned runs in 12 2/3 innings in three August starts.ROUGH DAYPittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli was hit by a pitch for a team-high 11th time in the second inning. One inning later, he fouled a ball off his foot - and took a minute to walk it off - before striking out on a called third strike at the knees. He briefly jumped up and down and said a few words to umpire Doug Eddings.In the fifth, Cervelli tagged Joe Mauer on what he thought was a third strike and took a couple of steps to the dugout. However, Eddings called it a ball, leading to another discussion.WEST IS SECOND BESTUmpire Joe West worked his 5,164th career game, passing Bruce Froemming for second all time. Bill Klem worked 5,375.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: CF Starling Marte missed the game with an illness. . SS Jordy Mercer, who left Tuesday's came with left calf discomfort, did not play. . Pittsburgh hopes to have RHP Chad Kuhl, out since June 26 with a right forearm strain, begin a throwing program during its seven-game homestand that starts Thursday. He's eligible to return Aug. 26.Twins: OF Robbie Grossman, on the disabled list since Aug. 6 with a right hamstring strain, will go to Triple-A Rochester on a rehab assignment. The plan is for him to DH Thursday, then play a couple of games in the outfield before being re-evaluated.UP NEXTPirates: Host division-leading Chicago to PNC Park on Thursday to begin a four-game seriesm with RHP Ivan Nova (7-6, 4.42) scheduled to start the opener.Twins: RHP Ervin Santana (0-1, 6.53) takes to the hill Thursday when Minnesota opens a four-game home series against Detroit.---More baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
StubHubStubHubPirates' Archer aims for another strong start vs. Twins 16m ago• 2 min read Chris Archer will be working on a full week of rest when he takes the mound Wednesday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates wrap up a two-game interleague series with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.Archer, still settling in with his new team after being dealt by Tampa Bay ahead of the trade deadline, used the extended time off to work on his two-seam fastball. He is also incorporating a curveball into an arsenal that already includes a four-seamer clocking in at almost 95 mph this season as well as a solid changeup and a devastating slider."I'm using a full arsenal now instead of limiting myself to two, occasionally three," Archer told MLB.com.Archer went to the two-seamer early in his career but hadn't thrown it much over the last three seasons. Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage is a big proponent of the pitch and Archer said he thinks it will make him a much more effective pitcher in the long run."It's been great," Archer said of his work with Searage. "I'm a big fan of his style of coaching. He brings a positive attitude every day, regardless of the outcome the night before. He tends to have a smile on his face, and the way he delivers messages, it's easy to digest. ..."As players, it's an everyday battle. This game is more mental than it is physical at this level. Him being the consistent positive energy and voice, it helps everybody." Archer (4-5, 4.36 ERA) has been solid if not spectacular since joining the Pirates, going 1-0 with a 4.82 ERA while striking out nine in two starts. He held the Rockies to two runs on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out three over five innings Aug. 8 to earn his first victory for Pittsburgh.He took the mound for that outing despite a bout with food poisoning that left him stuck in bed a day earlier."I felt good enough to pitch and went out there for the boys and gave it my all," Archer said.He struck out seven over 4 1/3 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) and two hits in a July 14 start against the Twins. In his April 20 start against Minnesota, Archer allowed four hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings, but did not get a decision in the Rays' 8-7 victory.He is 6-1 with a 1.96 ERA in nine career starts versus Minnesota.The Twins send right-hander Jose Berrios (11-8, 3.66) to the mound in search of a two-game sweep Wednesday.Berrios' last outing was one of his shortest of the season. He lasted four innings against Cleveland, allowing four runs on four hits with a career-high six walks."I was opening myself on my release," Berrios said through an interpreter. "I didn't feel strong enough to pitch a good game. It's just one of those weird things. Day games, it hasn't been good for me. But I'm still doing my routine normally like I do all the time." Minnesota manager Paul Molitor shuffled his outfield for the series opener Tuesday night, moving Max Kepler to center with Jake Cave moving to left and Eddie Rosario taking over in right."We thought here over the remaining weeks to try to give a few different looks at that combination, and they're all capable of playing all three outfield positions," Molitor said.
Looking for More Picks?
You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Minnesota Twins
Pick Center
MLB
FINAL (8/15/2018)
TheCashmanWins
