Pirates Lose 4-1 As Skenes Can’t Right the Ship

The Pirates tied a season-worst on Saturday with their sixth consecutive loss, falling 4-1 to the Dodgers after an ugly offensive performance. Rookie phenomenon Paul Skenes couldn’t stop the bleeding, as a star-studded Los Angeles lineup tagged him for four runs in six innings. Clutch hitting proved the difference, as each of the Dodgers’ four runs came with two outs. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Recap:

Los Angeles got to Skenes early, with Teoscar Hernández and Gavin Lux each doubling in the first inning to open a 1-0 lead.

Pittsburgh (56-60) managed two base runners in both the second and third innings, but struggles with runners on base prevented them from nothing the equalizer.

Hernández and Lux continued their success against Skenes the second time through the lineup, with the latter notching a two-out, two RBI single to pad the lead.

The dynamic duo struck again in the fifth inning when Hernández punished a Skenes’ splinker, sending it 427 feet to the right-center power alley.

Bryan Reynolds singled and Oneil Cruz walked to put two on with no outs in the sixth, but Dodgers’ relievers Alex Vesia and Evan Phillips combined to retire the side and hold Pittsburgh scoreless.

Yasmani Grandal and Isiah Kiner-Falefa both singled in the seventh, but again the Pirates couldn’t spark a rally.

Ben Heller loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, then recovered to strike out the side against the top of the Dodgers’ order, trimming his ERA to 24.75 with two scoreless frames.

Ke’Bryan Hayes homered with one out in the ninth, breaking up the shutout, but Pittsburgh couldn’t come any closer.

Key Moment:

Facing a 4-0 deficit, the Pirates put two on with no outs in the sixth. Rather than continuing the rally and worming their way back into the game, they went down in order from there, leaving the inning empty-handed in their best chance at a comeback.

Star of the Game:

Hernández, who went 3-for-4 with a double and a homer.

Stat of Interest:

Ke’Bryan Hayes hit his fourth home run of the season, and first since June 18, doing so in his 90th game played.

Noteworthy:

• Pittsburgh’s six game losing streak ties a season-worst.
• Paul Skenes’ four earned runs allowed marks a career high.
• The Pirates left eight runners on base and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

Up Next: 

The Pirates will try to avoid the sweep at 4:10pm EDT Sunday, with left-hander Bailey Falter (3.87 ERA, 65 K’s) taking on former Bucco Tyler Glasnow (3.54 ERA, 164 K’s).