The Pirates scored 10 runs off Terry Doyle and Anthony Swarzak of the Twins in the first inning, leading to a 17-6 blowout of the Twins on Thursday.
Alex Presley, Andrew McCutchen, Jose Tabata and Casey McGehee all doubled in the first inning as the Pirates batted around against Doyle, a Rule 5 pick. The Pirates added homers by Presley, Matt Hague and Garrett Jones in the later innings, two of those coming off former Pirate Phil Dumatrait. Presley, Hague and Jones all had three hits each.
Pirates starter Jo-Jo Reyes struggled through 2.1 innings, allowing four runs, but he was so far out in front by the time he came out to pitch that he picked up the win anyway. The Bucs’ relievers generally pitched well in 6.2 innings of work
The Bucs host the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.
For more on the Pirates, there’s Bucs Dugout. For more on the Twins, there’s Twinkie Town.