SHOCKING NEWS: The Pittsburg Pirates’ Three best and most impressive defenders have decided to leave the team due to the poor salary allowances.

Twins update

The Twins fell to 2-4 on their nine-game road trip after getting swept at Yankee Stadium, the fifth time this season they have been swept. The trip concludes with their first visit to PNC Park since 2020. The Twins are 8-4 all-time at PNC Park, having also visited there in 2006, ’12, ’15 and ’18. They are 4-4 in interleague games this season. … The Twins won two of three from Pirates at Target Field last August, getting a two-run homer in the first game from CF Michael A

Pirates update

The Pirates (29-33) continue their homestand after losing to the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 11-7 Thursday. The Pirates, who won the first two games of the three-game series, missed out on their first series sweep of the Dodgers since 2015. … Thursday’s loss was the first time this season a Pirates starting pitcher had given up more than four earned runs. … RHP Paul Skenes, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, made his MLB debut on May 11. He is 3-0 in his first five starts. The 6-6 Skenes, who turned 22 last week, beat the Dodgers on Wednesday and could pitch in Sunday’s series finale. … RHP Quinn Priester (right lat muscle) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

ALTOONA (Double-A, 17-37) battered Richmond (Giants), 10-4. SS Tsung-Che Cheng (.226) hit his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot, smacked an RBI double, singled and walked. LF Sammy Siani (.253) crushed a two-run home run, his second, slapped an RBI single and finished with four RBIs. CF Jase Bowen (.236) was 2 for 4 with a sac fly and a single. DH Seth Beer (.293) went 3 for 5 with an RBI triple and an RBI single. RHP starter Braxton Ashcraft (2-2, 3.69) went seven innings and allowed four runs on six hits, including a solo home run. He walked no one and struck out 12 for the win. RHP Jack Carey (3.52) yielded one hit, walked two and fanned three in two innings of relief.

GREENSBORO (High-A, 31-22) lost 5-1 to Jersey Shore (Phillies). 3B Charles McAdoo (.335) drove in the only Grasshopper run with his seventh home run of the year. DH Nick Cimillo (.330) and Mitch Jebb (.195) each went 1 for 4 with a single. 1B Maikol Escotto (.238) hit a pair of singles and struck out twice. RHP Patrick Reilly (4.47) started and gave up one run on five hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out four in five innings. LHP Yoldin De La Paz (0-1, 12.00) yielded four runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out one in two innings for the loss. LHP CY Nielson (1.85) struck out two and gave up one hit in two scoreless innings. CF Lonnie White Jr. (.167) was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and SS Termarr Johsnon (.204) walked twice and struck out once.