Pirates
Bullpen Spoils Opening Day for Paul Skenes, Pirates
The bullpen struggles the Pittsburgh Pirates endured last year trickled into their 2025 season opener in a 5-4 walk-off loss against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park on Thursday.
Two batters after a leadoff triple off the bat of Nick Fortes in the ninth, Kyle Stowers ripped a line drive down the right field line against David Bednar (0-1) to cap off a come-from-behind victory for the Marlins.
Fortes blasted one to center field where Oneil Cruz casually retreated towards the fence, but the ball soared over his head and bounced off the wall back towards the infield. Fortes easily reached third base and had no trouble scoring on Stowers’ single.
How We Got There
With the Pirates (0-1) trailing by a run in the fifth, Ke’Bryan Hayes broke up starting pitcher Sandy Alcántara’s no-hit bid with two outs on a lined single to right field. After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Bryan Reynolds delivered a two-run single to put the Pirates out in front 2-1.
The following inning, Nick Gonzales snuck a home run over the left field fence against Lake Bachar to give the Pirates a 4-1 advantage. Gonzales hobbled around the bases and exited with recurrent left ankle discomfort. He was replaced by Adam Frazier at second base in the bottom of the sixth.
First home run of 2025 goes to Nick Gonzales đź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/uIkSoM3o4c
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 27, 2025
Pirates’ starter Paul Skenes, meanwhile, didn’t show many signs of rust in his first-career Opening Day start. The reigning National League Rookie of the Year allowed a pair of runs on three hits in 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks.
Both of Skenes’ walks didn’t come until there was one out in the sixth inning, when manager Derek Shelton opted for Dennis Santana out of the bullpen. The Marlins (1-0) scored a run on a passed ball charged to Joey Bart to cut the Pirates’ lead in half.
Colin Holderman was given the ball in the eighth inning and allowed a two-out single to Otto LĂłpez which resulted in a run for the Marlins. Center fielder Oneil Cruz made an ill-advised throw home, allowing LĂłpez to move up 90 feet. After a missed strike three call, Myers tied the game with a base hit.
Key Moment
The bottom of the ninth inning brought back memories to Bednar’s late-inning struggles from last season. The missed strike three call the inning prior certainly came back to haunt the Pirates, but the bullpen’s shakiness but them in an unnecessary situation.
Star of the Game
Stowers played the hero for the Marlins on Opening Day.
Kyle Stowers delivers the first walk-off of the 2025 season! #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/zUuXcGdJN5
— MLB (@MLB) March 27, 2025
Notable Pirates’ Performances
- Paul Skenes: 5.1 innings, two runs, three hits, two walks, seven strikeouts, 94 pitched/64 strikes.
- Colin Holderman: 1.0 inning, two hits, two runs, two walks, one strikeout, 37 pitches/23 strikes
- David Bednar: 0.0 innings, two hits, one run, one walk (intentional), 7 pitches/5 strikes
- Nick Gonzales: 1 for 3, one home run, two RBIs, one run, two strikeouts
- Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 4, two RBIs, one walk
- Tommy Pham: 1 for 3, one double, one walk, two strikeouts, one steal
- Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 4, one run, one strikeout, two steals
Stat to Know
With his two-run, fifth-inning single, Bryan Reynolds became the first Pirates batter to record an RBI in three consecutive season openers since Willie Stargell did so in five straight openers from 1974-78.
Noteworthy
- Skenes became the fastest No. 1 overall selection to make an Opening Day start. The previous quickest to do so were Mike Moore (drafted in 1981, Opening Day starter in 1984) and Stephen Strasburg (drafted in 2009, Opening Day starter in 2012).
- The Pirates stole six bases against the Marlins. It’s the most they’ve had in a season opener in the modern era.
- The Pirates designated RHP Peter Strzelecki to make room for LHP Ryan Borucki, who was added to the active roster.
- RHP Jared Jones (UCL sprain) was placed on the 15-day injured list (retro to March 24). 1B Spencer Horwitz (right wrist surgery) was placed on the 10-day injured list (retro to March 24).
- RHP Hunter Stratton was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Up Next
RHP Mitch Keller will start for the Pirates in the second game of the series against the Marlins on Friday night. RHP Connor Gillispe will start for Miami. First pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET.
