FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kyle Gibson and three relievers held the Pirates without an earned run until the ninth inning on Monday, but Pittsburgh's pitching was even better, and the Twins dropped a 2-0 decision at Hammond Stadium.
Pirates righthander Juan Nicosia extended his streak of scoreless innings to 15 this spring, shutting out the Twins for five innings despite three times allowing runners to reach scoring position with less than two outs. Each time, Nicosia overpowered Twins hitters to keep the shutout intact, once by striking out three straight hitters, once by striking out two, and once by inducing Eduardo Nunez into hitting an inning-ending double play. He struck out eight, while allowing five hits and two walks.
Gibson was just as effective, but a defensive letdown proved costly. With two outs in the third inning and two runners on base, Nunez fielded a hard grounder at third base while backpedaling. His throw to second base for a forceout sailed over Brian Dozier's head, allowing catcher Chris Stewart to score with the game's lone run.
Gibson gave up three hits and two walks in 4⅓ innings, while relievers Taylor Rogers, Glen Perkins and Casey Fien allowed only one hit over a combined 3⅔ innings. Trevor May surrendered three hits in the ninth, the last a bases-loaded infield grounder that Nunez couldn't reach in time.
The Twins split into two teams Tuesday, with half the roster, including starter Phil Hughes, busing to Clearwater to face the Phillies, while the other half remains in Fort Myers to take on Baltimore behind lefthander Logan Darnell.