Cronenworth, Padres beat Pirates 4-2 to win series
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jake Cronenworth hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning and the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 to take two of three. Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his big league-leading 11th save. Craig Stammen (2-1) got the final out of the sixth for the win in relief of Yu Darvish. Cronenworth’s go-ahead hit came a half inning after Darvish surrendered a 2-0 lead and was chased with the score tied at 2. Darvish didn’t factor in the decision but struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings while allowing two runs, six hits and one walk.

Giroux, Hayes help Flyers to win over first-place Penguins
Associated Press undefined
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Claude Giroux had two goals and an assist, Kevin Hayes gave Philadelphia a rare early lead, and the Flyers skated to an easy 7-2 victory over the first-place Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.Joel Farabee had a goal and two assists and Shayne Gostisbehere, Wade Allison and Robert  also scored for the Flyers, who snapped a three-game skid and won for just the sixth time in the last 16.Sidney Crosby and Jason Zucker scored for the Penguins, who are tied atop the East Division with Washington. Each has 71 points, but the Capitals have four games left while Pittsburgh has three.

Soler’s three hits, three RBIs lead Royals over Pirates 9-6
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jorge Soler had two doubles among his three hits and drove in three runs to lead Kansas City over the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-6 and improve the Royals’ record to a major league-best 15-8. Soler’s doubles sparked three-run rallies in the first and sixth innings, the latter stretching the lead to 9-5. Kansas City won for the sixth time in seven games. Salvador Pérez also had three of Kansas City’s 12 hits. Hunter Dozier hit a two-run triple and Andrew Benintendi added a two-run double.

Difo leads Pirates over Royals 2-1, back over .500 at 12-11
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pinch-hitter Wilmer Difo delivered the go-ahead single in the seventh inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Kansas City 2-1 to end the Royals’ five-game winning streak. Pittsburgh has won three straight games and 11 of of 16 since a 1-6 start, at 12-11 moving back above .500 for the first time since it was 1-0 in the opening week. Kansas City has lost seven straight games in Pittsburgh since 2009. Difo looped a single that dropped in front of a sliding Michael A. Taylor in center.

Bruins keep Penguins in check, tighten East race in 3-1 win
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tuukka Rask turned aside 25 shots and the Boston Bruins edged the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1. David Krejci gave Boston the lead with a goal late in the second period. Brad Marchand and Taylor Hall scored in the third as Boston earned its fifth win over Pittsburgh in eight meetings this season. Jeff Carter scored late for the Penguins, whose four-game winning streak was halted.

Polanco homers among 3 hits, Pittsburgh beats Minnesota 6-2
By MIKE COOK Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gregory Polanco homered among his three hits, the Pittsburgh bullpen tossed five strong innings, and the Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 Sunday. Adam Frazier also had three hits as Pittsburgh finished a nine-game road trip 6-3. The Pirates have won three of four and five of seven. Minnesota, 2-11 in its last 13 games, is tied with Detroit for fewest wins in the American League. Nelson Cruz homered.

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer
DETROIT (AP) — Phillip Evans kept Akil Baddoo’s drive to left field in the park in the seventh inning to help Pittsburgh escape a jam, and the Pirates scored twice in the eighth to beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2. Colin Moran and Erik González hit RBI singles with two outs in the eighth. With the score tied at 2, Baddoo nearly put the Tigers ahead, but Evans reached above the fence in left, and the ball bounced off his glove and back into the field of play. Baddoo wound up with a double, and he didn’t end up scoring.

Tigers beat Pirates 5-2 to gain doubleheader split
By DAVE HOGG Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — Tyler Anderson’s five strong innings helped Pittsburgh move to 8-9 with a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, but Detroit rallied for a 5-2 win in the nightcap.Pittsburgh has won five of its last eight games after a 1-6 start.The Pirates and Tigers were playing a doubleheader because Tuesday night’s game was postponed on a snowy day in the Detroit area. There was still a white dusting on top of the bushes beyond the wall in center field Wednesday, plus some flurries late in the game.