Pirates drop Twins for third straight victory

Associated Press

pittsburgh

Even as Kevin Correia struggled, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle stayed patient.

It was just a year ago, after all, the right-hander was an All-Star.

For a night, Correia provided a needed reminder, pitching 5 1-3 shutout innings to lead the Pirates to a 7-2 win over the reeling Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Correia (3-6) allowed four hits to go with a walk and two strikeouts to earn his first victory at PNC Park since beating Baltimore on June 22, 2011.

“I knew (the wins) would come,” Correia said. “We’re starting to hit.”

Andrew McCutchen drilled his 12th homer among his three hits, and Josh Harrison and Clint Barmes also notched three hits apiece for Pittsburgh, which has won three straight to climb four games above .500 (35-31).

Minnesota’s Scott Diamond (5-3) gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings to lose his second straight start. Denard Span hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who have dropped five of six.

“We didn’t have a lot of chances,” Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We had a couple, but Correia made his pitches when he had to.”

The Twins began the day with the highest batting average in interleague play (.306) but mustered little on a steamy night when Correia seemed to recapture his 2011 form.

The 31-year-old Correia was a surprise All-Star selection last season after winning 11 games before the break, but since then has been in an 11-month funk — winning only three of his previous 20 starts, dating to last July. None of those victories came at home, where he had been 0-6 since that win over the Orioles.

Though hardly overpowering, Correia kept the ball away from the middle of the plate while grinding through 97 pitches.

Correia’s only trouble spot came in the sixth inning, when a walk and a single put runners on the corners with one out, and he gave way to Tony Watson. The Twins loaded the bases before Watson struck out former Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit to end the threat