Paul Skenes Returns to Form, Offense Finally Comes Alive in Pirates’ Win Over Nats

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense poured it on, backing a strong start from Paul Skenes in a 10-3 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on Monday night.

How We Got There

The Pirates (6-11) scored a much-needed early run when Ke’Bryan Hayes singled home Andrew McCutchen in the first. Two innings later, Bryan Reynolds delivered an RBI single after an Oneil Cruz double to extend the lead to 2-0.

Reynolds delivered another run for the Pirates on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth. Two batters later with the bases loaded, Enmanuel Valdez drove in two with a base hit to right.

The Pirates committed three errors in the top of the sixth as part of a two-run inning for the Nats (6-10). Hayes dropped a grounder at third base giving Washington runners on the corners. James Wood bounced into a fielder’s choice which allowed Nasim Nuñez to score from third.

Skenes (2-1) was charged with a throwing error on a pickoff attempt — his second of the game, which allowed Wood to move up to third. Wood then scored on an Nathaniel Lowe single and moved to second on a Cruz fielding error in center. Skenes retired Josh Bell to stop the bleeding.

Keibert Ruiz brought the Nationals within a pair with an RBI single off Caleb Ferguson in the top of the eighth.

But the Pirates answered with plenty of insurance in the bottom of the eighth. Valdez doubled home a run and Hayes followed by plating a pair with a single to left-center. With one out and a runner on second, Tommy Pham went the other way to put the Pirates ahead 9-3, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa made it three hits in a row with an RBI single up the middle.

Key Moment

Valdez’s two-run single gave the Pirates some needed breathing room. Despite running into an out on the play, Valdez had a good game from the cleanup spot and reached base in all four of his plate appearances.

5-0 THANKS TO THE CLEAN UP MAN 🧹

THE NECKLACES WILL NOT BE DENIED! pic.twitter.com/TSEp8rbIZa

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) April 15, 2025

Star of the Game

Paul Skenes allowed a career-high five runs in his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals but looked regained his familiar form. The right-hander allowed a pair of runs (one earned) and struck out six in 6.0 innings.

Not the first time Skenes has sent a bat flying.

Won't be the last ⛽ pic.twitter.com/1Cb0u6cch4

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) April 15, 2025

Notable Pirates’ Performances

• Paul Skenes: 6.0 innings, three hits, two runs (one earned), no walks, six strikeouts, 99 pitches/64 strikes
• Enmanuel Valdez: 2 for 2, one double, three RBIs, two walks, one run
• Ke’Bryan Hayes: 2 for 4, three RBIs
• Oneil Cruz: 2 for 5, one double, one run
• Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 4, one sac fly, one RBI, one run
• Andrew McCutchen: 1 for 2, two walks, two runs
• Adam Frazier: 2 for 4, one run
• Tommy Pham: 1 for 3, one RBI, two runs

Stat to Know

Paul Skenes and Henry Davis became the first-ever battery consisting of former No. 1 picks (h/t Sarah Langs on Twitter/X).

Noteworthy

• Endy Rodríguez was removed from the game in the top of the first inning with a right index finger laceration. He’s being treated by the medical staff.
• The Pirates’ four errors were the most they’ve had in a game since 5/29/24 in game one of a doubleheader agaisnt the Detroit Tigers.
• The Pirates recorded a season-high 14 hits and 10 runs. In their weekend series with the Reds, the Pirates totaled 10 hits and five runs. All nine Pirates had at least one hit.
• Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews became the first college teammates selected with the top two picks of the same draft in 2023. They faced each other for the first time in the big leagues in this one and Skenes induced a pair of groundouts against his former teammate.
• The win was the 300th of Derek Shelton’s career. He’s the 12th Pirates’ manager to hit that mark.

Up Next

RHP Mitch Keller (1-1, 4.24 ERA), who threw 7.1-scoreless innings in his last outing, will start for the Pirates on Tuesday night. RHP Jake Irvin (0-0, 5.63 ERA) will start for the Nationals. First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET.