Pirates

Pirates Recap: Paul Skenes Takes First Loss Despite Excellent Performance vs. Cardinals

Published

5 months ago

July 23, 2024

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes pitched a career-high 8.1 innings in yet another astonishing start but the Pittsburgh Pirates offense could not back its starter and fell 2-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

Skenes (6-1) efficiently navigated the Cardinals’ lineup, working a career-high 8.1 innings. He allowed two runs on four hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out eight.

The rookie phenom returned to the mound for the top of the ninth inning after the Pirates (51-50) evened the score at 1-all in the bottom of the eighth.

Nick Gonzales provided more late-game magic with an RBI single over Oneil Cruz raced to second base for a double on a shallow pop fly into center field.

Michael Siani opened the ninth with a double down the left field line. He was initially ruled out, but the call was overturned after Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol challenged.

With one out, Alec Burleson brought home Siani with a single to right on an 0-2 pitch to give the Cardinals the decisive 2-1 lead.

Skenes’ 14-consecutive scoreless innings streak came to an end on a Nolan Arenado solo homer to lead off the fifth. Arenado ambushed a first-pitch curveball from Skenes and hit it over the fence in left field.

The Cardinals (53-48) didn’t get their first hit against Skenes until the third inning when Nolan Gorman singled. It snapped a stretch of nine-straight hitless innings for Skenes, the longest streak by a Pirates’ starter since Mitch Keller (11 innings) in 2020.

While the Pirates outhit the Cardinals 7-4, they also left seven men on base compared to the Cardinals’ two. The Bucs loaded the bases with two outs in the second but Andrew McCutchen flew out to center. The bases were again loaded in the fifth but Gonzales was retired on a 2-3 putout.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn struck out Jared Triolo to end the bottom of the fourth inning. It was the 2,000th strikeout of his career, making him the 88th pitcher in history to reach the mark.

Lynn blanked the Pirates across five innings. The veteran scattered four hits, walked three and struck out two.

Ryan Fernandez (1-2) earned his first big-league win by getting the final two outs of the eighth inning.

Up Next

Martín Pérez (1-5, 5.61 ERA) will start for the Pirates in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon. The Cardinals have yet to announce a starting pitcher. First pitch: 12:35 ET.