Bradenton, Fla. — The Minnesota Twins came up on the short end of a 2-1 walk-off affair in Bradenton this afternoon.
Pirates Bryan Reynolds Takes an 0-2 Pitch Deep in the Bottom of the First off Bundy. (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)
The game came to walk-off abrupt end when Pirate second baseman Hunter Owen took Australian Lewis Thorpe deep to seal the spring game 2-1. It was Owen’s only at bat for the game and Lewis’ line was 1.2 IP, 1 run, 1 hit, 2 BB and of course the one homer.
Bryse Wilson (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)
With short work of 1/3 IP and a K the winner was Beau Sulser. Jake Cave, who was 2-2 for the Twins with the lone Minnesota RBI with a single in the first scoring Trevor Larnach off Pirates starter Bryse Wilson. It was feast or famine for Wilson as he pitched 2 2/3 innings walking three but of the five outs four were K’s. the Pirates tied it in the home half of the first as Bryan Reynolds took Twins starter Dylan Bundy yard who had a good spring outing otherwise going three innings striking our four Pirates. Innings two through eight were pretty much of the paint drying variety until the bottom of the ninth heroics of Owen.
Jake Cave Hits a Bloop Single to Left Driving in the Twins First Run (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)
Cole Tucker (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)
Australian and Twins Losing Pitcher Lewis Thorpe (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)
Lewis Thorpe pickoff move (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)
A meeting of the managers, Derek Shelton (left) and Rocco Baldelli. (EDDIE MICHELS PHOTO)