Twins top Pirates 2-1

• Josh Willingham

(AP Photo) Minnesota Twins’ Josh Willingham, left, scores in front of Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Michael McKenry on a single by Trevor Plouffe in the first inning of a baseball game on Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

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PITTSBURGH — Josh Willingham didn’t know what was coming. His teammates sure did.

Digging in against Pittsburgh reliever Jason Grilli with the game tied in the eighth on Wednesday night, the Minnesota outfielder was simply looking to get something started.

He ended up finishing off the Pirates.

Willingham turned on a 93 mph fastball and sent it into the seats in left-center field to lift the Twins to a needed 2-1 victory.

“It’s probably the most obvious call in the clubhouse is, ‘Willingham’s going to hit a homer,’ and they’re all taking credit,” Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He’s the one guy who walks up there and he’s swinging for it. He can juice a baseball, he can pull a baseball. And I called that one too.”

Willingham’s 14th home run of the season lifted the Twins to just their second victory in their past seven games. Reliever Jared Burton (1-0) helped Francisco Liriano avoid major trouble in the seventh while Glen Perkins picked up his first save in place of injured closer Matt Capps, who is battling right shoulder inflammation.

The Twins weren’t the only ones who knew Willingham was going to go deep. Grilli (1-2) did too the moment the ball left his hand.

“It was probably the worst pitch I’ve thrown all season,” Grilli said after giving up his first homer since April 17.

Minnesota will take it on a nigh

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