What a difference a week can make

Braxton Ashcraft struck out eleven Twins over six superb innings, while Ryan O'Hearn and Nick Gonzales homered as the Pirates swept the Twins in Pittsburgh.

Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning to give the Pirates a 6-5 victory over the Twins on Friday night.

The Twins endured a rough weekend in Pittsburgh that included having to replace five pitchers on the active roster, and there are no obvious answers to who is filling their hole in the rotation.

The first-year Twins skipper spent just over five years in Pittsburgh before being dismissed early last season.

PITTSBURGH — A road trip that started so promisingly for the Twins ended with a thud Sunday. The Twins began their trek by sweeping the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park for the first time since 1994. They ended it by getting swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates, losing Sunday 9-3 at PNC Park.

The Minnesota Twins face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, May 29, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh — here’s how to watch.

Call it a Texas three-step. Looking to complete a sweep and win five of seven on their homestand, the Pirates relied on three players with Texas ties during a 9-3 victory over the Twins at PNC Park, with Braxton Ashcraft,