MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Tommy Milone gave up one run in seven innings and the Minnesota Twins squeaked out a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

Milone (3-1) gave up five hits and struck out five and Eduardo Nunez had two hits and two RBI to help the reeling Twins, who had lost seven of their previous eight games.

Carlos Martinez (7-3) gave up two runs — one earned — on five hits and struck out six in 6 2/3 innings for the Cardinals, who are embroiled in a federal investigation into allegations that members of the team’s baseball operations hacked into the Houston Astros’ personnel database.

The Cardinals had two runners on with no outs in the ninth, but Glen Perkins struck out Mark Reynolds and Randal Grichuk and got Yadier Molina to ground out to improve to 23 for 23 in save tries.

The Cardinals have spent the last two days swimming in deep water after news broke that the FBI was conducting an investigation into the hacking allegations involving a database compiled by former Cardinals executive Jeff Luhnow, now the Astros’ GM.

Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt and GM John Mozeliak responded forcefully on Wednesday, saying that they had no knowledge of any such actions and were conducting an internal review of their own to get to determine if there was any truth to the allegations.

Until then, Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny vowed not to let the headline-grabbing allegations, which have called into question the integrity of one of baseball’s model franchises, distract the team from the torrid pace it has set to start this season. The Cardinals entered the game with the best record in the big leagues, having beaten the Twins at home on Tuesday on the day the investigation was revealed by the New York Times.

They jumped on Milone in the second inning, getting an RBI single from Jason Heyward for a 1-0 lead.

But Mark Reynolds was charged with an error for being unable to scoop a low pickoff attempt from Martinez at first base, which allowed Trevor Plouffe to score from third and put Eddie Rosario in position to score on a sacrifice fly from Eduardo Nunez to give the Twins a 2-1 lead in the fourth.

A combination of the Cardinals’ enthusiastic fan base and the home debut of highly touted Twins prospect Byron Buxton led to an announced crowd of 34,381, the third-largest of the season at Target Field.

Buxton went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, but did make a nice running catch at the warning track in the third inning.

Struggling star Joe Mauer was moved from third in the order to second. He had a double in the first inning, but struck out twice, including with two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Twins: GM Terry Ryan said RHP Ricky Nolasco, on the disabled list with an ankle injury, was being fitted for orthotics. The club was hopeful that the orthotics would help relieve what has been a recurring for issue for him.

UP NEXT

The Twins send RHP Mike Pelfrey (5-3, 3.18) to the mound to finish the four-game split series against LHP Jaime Garcia (2-3, 2.06). Pelfrey had been a pleasant surprise for the Twins through 11 starts, but was tagged for eight runs on 11 hits in a loss to the Rangers his last time out. Garcia missed the first 40 games while recovering from thoracic outlet surgery. He has not walked a batter in his last four starts.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Before the first pitch, manager Mike Matheny noted there are distractions every day for the St. Louis Cardinals. This, he maintained, was just another one.

A federal investigation into possible computer hacking by the team becoming news Monday failed to slow down the team with the major leagues’ best record.

The Cardinals extended their winning streak to five by beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2 behind Michael Wacha’s pitching and Mark Reynolds’ two-run single.

“We’re cooperating and I think they understand it really has nothing to do with us inside the clubhouse right now,” Matheny said. “Our job is to stay focused on what we can do each day, and let that process take care of itself.”

Before the game, Matheny said he was in the weight room when he first learned of the investigation into whether the Cardinals had hacked Houston’s computer database. The Cardinals then completed a soggy homestand in which three games were delayed and another against Kansas City was postponed until July 23.

St. Louis is 43-22 overall and 26-7 at home, both tops in the majors, and matched a franchise best by reaching 43 wins in 64 games.

Minnesota has lost seven of eight and was 1-4 on a trip that featured the debut of Byron Buxton, the second overall pick in 2012.

“He is just one player and he’s played really well and it’s been awesome to see him up here, that’s for sure,” Twins starter Kyle Gibson said. “We’re definitely excited for how he’s going to help the team, and he’s going to.”

Wacha (9-2) halted warmups before the first pitch was delayed 45 minutes and didn’t return after a 47-minute rain delay with one out in the seventh and the Cardinals leading 3-1. He allowed two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Wacha endured six weather delays totaling more than six hours last season, so the rain Tuesday was nothing new.

“You just kind of have a sense of what to expect,” Wacha said. “I just stayed mentally ready as well as physically.

“You know, it’s not the first time I went through it.”

Kevin Siegrist stood in for Trevor Rosenthal, who is sidelined by a knot in his biceps, and pitched the ninth for his third save in four chances.

Matheny thought Rosenthal looked better but needed another day, and didn’t think the injury would require a stint on the 15-day disabled list.

“They’ve ruled out anything structural, it’s just one of those times during the season and it just so happened on two nights when he typically would be needed,” Matheny said. “It’s great to see Kevin Siegrist step up once again.”

Yadier Molina doubled for his fourth hit in two games and scored on Randal Grichuk’s sacrifice fly in the second, and Reynolds’ single gave St. Louis a 3-1 lead in the third.

Trevor Plouffe had an RBI double in the first and Kurt Suzuki doubled in a run in the seventh after Seth Maness relieved. Gibson (4-5) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

Buxton was easily thrown out stealing by Yadier Molina after reaching on an infield hit leading off the eighth. Matheny said reliever Matt Belisle made it difficult for the rookie to get a good jump.

“The guy was really quick to home,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “It didn’t work out.”

UP NEXT

The teams play at Minnesota on Wednesday and Thursday. Tommy Milone worked seven innings his last time out, allowing only a two-run homer to Elvis Andrus. In his only prior appearance against the Cardinals, he matched a career high surrendering three homers on June 30, 2013, in Oakland. With Carlos Martinez pitching, the Cardinals are 10-2. He’s 7-2 with a 2.93 ERA in his first year in the rotation.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Rosenthal has been unavailable the last three games. Lance Lynn, on the DL with a forearm strain, played catch Tuesday and remained on track to return in late June.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Yadier Molina homered for the first time this season and John Lackey worked eight strong innings for the St. Louis Cardinals, who won their fourth in a row with a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

Mark Reynolds connected three pitches ahead of Molina in the fourth, giving the Cardinals back-to-back homers.

Randal Grichuk tripled, singled and scored for St. Louis, which is 42-21 overall and 25-7 at home — both major league bests. The Cardinals have won 15 of 20.

Twins rookie Byron Buxton tripled for his first career hit with one out in the eighth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brian Dozier that cut the gap to a run. Buxton also slammed into the wall, but didn’t stay down long, after just missing a running catch on Grichuk’s triple leading off the third.

Molina dropped about 20 pounds in the offseason, reporting at 220 pounds, and his power profile has suffered. Manager Mike Matheny said before the game the lack of a long ball likely bothered Molina more than fans or teammates.

He averaged 16 homers over a three-year period from 2011-13 before dropping off to seven last season.

Lackey (5-4) bounced back smartly on six days’ rest after getting torched for 10 earned runs in four innings at Colorado. Lackey, whose start was postponed a day by a rainout Sunday, allowed two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and a walk.

Kevin Siegrist finished for his second save in three chances. Closer Trevor Rosenthal, who leads the NL with 21 saves, did not warm up.

Twins rookie starter Trevor May (4-5) gave up a total of four homers his first 11 starts. He allowed three runs in five innings, ending a run of five consecutive starts of six or more.

UP NEXT

Kyle Gibson is 1-1 with a 4.82 ERA his last three starts, all at home. The Cardinals are averaging 6.3 runs for Michael Wacha, among the best in the league.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (forearm strain) remains on track to return from the 15-day DL on time June 23.

Twins: Torii Hunter returned from a two-game suspension.

— Associated Press —