Pirates Preview: Well, At Least Today is a New Day

Danny Demilio |

Aug 2, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first inning on Friday night. They led 15-6 headed into the bottom of the fifth. And they were walked off 17-16 by the Colorado Rockies.

Andrew McCutchen drove in five runs and Oneil Cruz hit a grand slam. It wasn’t enough for a Pirates’ pitching staff that was charged with 16 earned runs on 22 hits.

The Pirates (47-63) will look to put the embarrassing loss behind them against the Rockies (29-80) on Saturday.

First pitch is set for 3:10 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Overcast skies with temperatures in the upper-80s. Swirling winds at 7-10 mph.

RHP Paul Skenes (6-8, 1.83 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Skenes threw six-shutout innings and struck out nine against the Arizona Diamondbacks the last time he was on the mound.

It was the end of a fantastic month of July for Skenes, who didn’t allow a run in four of his five starts during the month and posted a stellar 0.67 ERA.

Skenes leads major-league starters in ERA and batting average against (.184).

This will be his first time facing the Rockies.

LHP Austin Gomber (0-5, 6.28 ERA) Will Start for the Rockies

Gomber was tagged for four runs in 4.1 innings against the Orioles in his last start on Sunday.

Over his last four starts, Gomber has a 7.11 ERA and has allowed 28 hits (four home runs) across 19 innings pitched.

The Rockies are 1-7 in games started by Gomber this season, while he has taken the loss in each of his last four starts. The left-hander is seeking his first win since last year on Sep. 5 against the Atlanta Braves.

In nine career appearances/five starts against the Pirates in his career, Gomer is 0-3 with a 6.44 ERA.

Rockies Hitters vs. Skenes

Orlando Arcia: 1 for 2
Thairo Estrada: 0 for 2, one walk, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Gomber

Tommy Pham: 3 for 14, one double, two RBI, three walks, three strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 1 for 8
Bryan Reynolds: 0 for 7, two walks, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 0 for 4, three strikeouts

Tidbits

This was the first time since at least 1901 the Pirates scored 16 runs and lost.
The Pirates’ nine-run first inning consisted of 10 hits, the most they’ve had in a single inning of a game since August 6, 1959 at St. Louis, when they had 10 hits in the ninth.
Paul Skenes’ 0.67 ERA was the lowest by any Pirates pitcher with at least 27.0 innings pitched during a single season in the month of July since at least 1901.