Jake Mangum homers and drives in 2 runs as Pirates hold off Twins 10-9

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jake Mangum went 3 for 4 with his first homer of the season and a go-ahead RBI single after the Pirates blew a six-run lead as Pittsburgh held off the Minnesota Twins 10-9 on Saturday.

Mangum went deep against Bailey Ober (6-3) in the second inning for the fourth home run of his career. He later tagged Ober with a line drive single in the fifth that scored Konnor Griffin to help the Pirates steady themselves after the Twins erased a massive early deficit. Mangum also contributed defensively, going deep in the gap in left-center to rob Minnesota's Orlando Arcia of extra bases in the ninth with the tying run on first.

Gregory Soto got the final four outs for his seventh save. Yohan Ramirez (3-2) earned the win in relief after starter Mitch Keller couldn't hold an early 7-1 lead.

Oneil Cruz hit his 13th home run of the season and second in as many days as the Pirates won for the fifth time in seven games. Spencer Horwitz had two hits for Pittsburgh, including a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first.

Nick Gonzales had three hits for Pittsburgh, which handed former manager Derek Shelton a second consecutive loss in his return to PNC Park since being fired by the Pirates last May early into his sixth season with the club.

Kody Clemens had three of Minnesota's 12 hits. Josh Bell drove in three runs for the Twins, who have lost five of six.

Ober's three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end. The right-hander allowed a season-high eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits. Ober has given up seven homers over his last three starts.

Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe was ejected for the first time in his nine-year career. The two-time All-Star, whose 14 homers lead the team, was tossed by first base umpire Jordan Baker after flying out to left in the fourth inning. Earlier in the at-bat, Lowe attempted to challenge a strike call, but it was not recognized by plate umpire Alex Tosi.

The series wraps up Sunday. Zebby Matthews (1-2, 2.37 ERA) starts for the Twins against Pittsburgh's Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.75).

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Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton singles off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mason Montgomery int the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Spencer Horwitz (2) celebrates as he heads back to the dugout after his home run off of Minnesota Twins pitcher Bailey Ober in the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz is unable to make a leaping catch of a triple hit by Minnesota Twins' Kody Clemens in the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum drives in a run with a single off Minnesota Twins pitcher Bailey Ober in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Konnor Griffin, left, slides around a tag by Minnesota Twins catcher Victor Caratini, right, to score on a single by Jake Mangum in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. finally connected for his first home run of the season — and boy was it a blast.

Tatis slugged a 451-foot solo shot to left field in the fifth inning against Washington on Saturday, although the San Diego Padres went on to lose 9-4 to the Nationals. Tatis, who has five 20-homer seasons in his career and hit 42 in 2021, had not gone deep in 240 plate appearances before this game — the longest drought in the major leagues.

He then singled in the first inning and struck out in the third before his fifth-inning drive off Foster Griffin gave San Diego a 3-1 lead.

“I just knew right away,” Tatis said. “About (expletive) time."

Tatis flipped his bat with his left hand and received a joyous welcome from his San Diego teammates after rounding the bases. It was his first homer since Sept. 27 against Arizona.

“It was very exciting for everybody," manager Craig Stammen said. "He’s been carrying that burden. The team has been carrying that burden.”

For a while it looked like the Padres would be able to celebrate a victory as well. They led 3-1 before the Nationals scored six runs in the seventh.

“There's no off days over here man," Tatis said. "This game will find a way how to still punish you.”

Still, it had to be a relief for Tatis to hit a homer, especially such a prodigious one. The wind was blowing in from left field at 10 mph on Saturday, but Tatis' drive carried well into the seats in left, landing a few rows short of the concourse.

“Bet you he'll sleep a little better tonight, knowing that he has a little ‘one’ on his numbers. He has a lot in his career, but it's different," teammate Xander Bogaerts said. "Everyone knows what the deal is here. Everyone knows he has zero, so I think getting that kind of pressure off his back is nice."

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San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)