MINNEAPOLIS -- Twins starter J.A. Happ came five outs away from a no-hitter, but still emerged victorious in a 2-0 Pirates loss Friday night at Target Field.
Happ relied on his defense for most of the night, striking out only three, but limited hard contact. He relied almost exclusively on his fastball, throwing it for 77 times out of his 95 pitches on the night.
Jacob Stallings broke up the bid with a double to left, snapping an 0-for-19 streak for himself. Stallings and Erik González walked in the second inning for Happ’s only other base runners allowed.
Happ’s no-hit bid was preserved by a controversial call in the fifth inning. Right fielder Wlimer Difo hit a comebacker to the mound, which Happ was not able to backhand. It rolled away from him and made a throw at first, which hit Difo in the leg. After a conference from the umpires, home plate umpire Jose Navas ultimately ruled Difo was out of the baseline, and his infield single was taken off the board.
Following the Stallings double, the Pirates were able to get two runners in scoring position with two outs, but Adam Frazier chased a pitch in the dirt to end the threat.
JT Brubaker (2-1) went seven innings, the most for a Pirate this year, and gave arguably the best outing of his career. He allowed a pair of solo home runs -- one to Willians Astudillo off a chin-high fastball -- but those were the only runs on his ledger. He allowed five hits, struck out five and did not walk a batter.
Frazier’s on-base streak was snapped after 13 games. Sam Howard tossed a clean eighth in relief of Brubaker.
Trevor Cahill (0-2, 9.69) will get the start Saturday against Michael Pineda (1-0, 1.00). First pitch is at 2:10 p.m. Eastern Time.
