Pirates Capitalize on Blue Jays Miscues for Win; Paul Skenes No-Decision After Solid Start
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates capitalized on several mistakes after Paul Skenes delivered a solid start to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 at PNC Park on Monday night.
How We Got There
The Pirates (53-73) took a brief lead in the top of the second inning on Alexander Canario’s RBI single. But the Blue Jays (73-53) countered with two runs off Paul Skenes in the top of the third. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plated Geroge Springer on a groundout to third base and Bo Bichette put the Blue Jays ahead with an RBI single.
The Pirates drew even in the bottom of the frame when Spencer Horwitz beat a throw home from Guerrero on a Bryan Reynolds dribbler to first base.
The score remained tied 2-2 until the bottom of the seventh when Henry Davis led off with a double and later scored on a wild pitch from Blue Jays reliever Brendon Little.
Two Blue Jays throwing errors led to two more runs for the Pirates in the eighth. Jared Triolo scored from third on a throwing error by catcher Tyler Heineman and Davis hit a sac fly to extend the lead to 5-2.
Evan Sisk (1-1) got his first big-league win after throwing a scoreless seventh inning. Dennis Santana recorded his eighth save of the season.
Key Moment
Henry Davis had five hits in his last 58 at-bats prior to his double to open the seventh. He advanced to third on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s sacrifice bunt and scored the winning run.
Player of the Game
Paul Skenes didn’t get the win but struck out eight and held the Blue Jays to a pair of runs across six-solid innings.
Stat to Know
Toronto’s two-run third inning snapped a stretch of 29.2 consecutive scoreless innings thrown by Paul Skenes at PNC Park. He had not been charged with an earned run in any of his last five home starts, which was the longest streak by a Pirate since 1912.
Notable Performances
- Paul Skenes: 6.0 innings, five hits, two runs, one walk, eight strikeouts, 96 pitches/65 strikes
- Spencer Horwitz: 2 for 3, one double, one run
Noteworthy
- Alexander Canario’s RBI single was his first hit since July 7. The base hit snapped an 0-for-21 skid.
- The benches cleared in the bottom of the seventh inning after Tommy Pham exchanged words with Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman following a one-out walk.
Up Next
RHP Mitch Keller (5-11, 4.13 ERA) starts for the Pirates on Tuesday night. RHP Max Scherzer (3-2, 3.83 ERA) goes for the Blue Jays. First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET.
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