Pirates
Pirates Finally Get Paul Skenes a Win, Blow Out Diamondbacks in Rubber Match
For the first time since Apr. 25, Paul Skenes was the winning pitcher.
Skenes (4-5) delivered 6.2-shutout innings, and the Pittsburgh Pirates poured it on the Arizona Diamondbacks for a 10-1 blowout win in Wednesday’s rubber match at Chase Field.
How We Got There
Henry Davis picked up where he left off on Tuesday and got the Pirates on the board with an RBI single in the second.
The Pirates (21-36) scored two more runs in the top of the fifth when Oneil Cruz hit a bouncer to second baseman Jordan Lawler, who delivered an errant throw to second base with the bases loaded.
Pittsburgh then broke things open in the top of the sixth, starting with a Ke’Bryan Hayes RBI single.
After Hayes’ single, Isiah Kiner-Falefa shot a double inside the first base bag to plate a pair and give the Pirates a 6-0 lead. Following an Andrew McCutchen RBI groundout to third, Bryan Reynolds extended the lead to 8-0 with an RBI triple to right.
Cruz got the Pirates into double digits with a two-run home run in the eighth inning, his 12th of the season.
10/10 Cruz Missile đź’Ą pic.twitter.com/wxpzCRMeeg
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 28, 2025
Tim Tawa spoiled the shutout bid and got the Diamondbacks (27-28) on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth against Ryan Borucki.
Key Moment
Lawlar’s throwing error cushioned the lead, and the Pirates opened the floodgates the following inning. Once the Pirates got to three runs, it just felt like that’s all Paul Skenes would need.
Star of the Game
Despite big games from several players with the bats, Paul Skenes was terrific. He’s allowed one run or fewer in each of his last four starts.
Notable Performances
- Paul Skenes: 6.2 innings, four hits, no runs, no walks, seven strikeouts, 96 pitches/67 strikes
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 3 for 4, one double, two RBI, three runs
- Oneil Cruz: 1 for 5, one home run, three RBI, one run
- Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 5, one triple, one RBI
- Henry Davis: 2 for 5, one RBI, one run
- Jared Triolo: 2 for 4, one run
Stat to Know
Paul Skenes has a 1.01 ERA over his last four starts (3er/26.2ip). In his last nine starts dating back to Apr. 14, Skenes has a 1.74 ERA (11er/57.0ip).
Noteworthy
- Ke’Bryan Hayes’ RBI single in the sixth snapped an 0-for-20 skid.
- This is the first time the Pirates have won a series in Arizona since 2016.
- The Pirates placed C Joey Bart on the 7-day concussion IL and reinstated C/1B Endy RodrĂguez.
Up Next
The Pirates have a day off on Thursday before the start of a weekend series against the San Diego Padres on Friday night. RHP Mitch Keller (1-6, 3.66 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh. San Diego hasn’t announced their starter. First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET.