Pirates Ride Paul Skenes to Shutout Win Over Reds; Yorke Slugs First Homer

A pair of solo home runs was all Paul Skenes needed for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their 2-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark on Sunday afternoon. 

Recap

Skenes (11-3) needed just 73 pitches to get through his five innings pitched against the Reds (76-81). The rookie right-hander only allowed a pair of singles, retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced and didn’t allow a runner to reach scoring position. 

Skenes struck out nine, which extended his franchise rookie record total to 167 on the season. He didn’t walk a batter but plunked one in his 22nd start for the Pirates (73-83).

Four different Pirates’ relievers preserved the shutout and the victory with Aroldis Chapman recording his 11th save of the season by striking out a pair in a scoreless ninth. 

Oneil Cruz opened the scoring by smoking a 442-foot home run to center fielder off of Reds starter Hunter Greene, who pitched three innings in his return from the injured list. 

In the fifth, Nick Yorke checked off a milestone by ambushing right-handed reliever Fernando Cruz’s first pitch of the inning for his first-career home run. 

One to remember!

Nick Yorke gets his first home run in the big leagues👏 pic.twitter.com/Vkum87djWS

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 22, 2024

Key Moment

Sure, Cruz’s mammoth home run accounted for just one run, but it was more than enough run support for Skenes and the Pirates’ bullpen.

Oneil Cruz to the smokestacks💨 pic.twitter.com/33yuEapk0J

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 22, 2024

Star of the Game

In a year filled with so many dazzling outings, Skenes was just about as dominant as he’s been at any point during the season and lowered his ERA to 1.99. On the month, the potential Rookie of the Year has a superb 0.82 ERA (2er/22ip) with 31 strikeouts

Stat to Know

Skenes is just the second player since 1913 to post a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 22 starts. Steve Rogers posted a 1.95 ERA through 22 starts with the Montreal Expos from 1973-74. Skenes’ 167 strikeouts are the fifth-most by a pitcher through their first 22 starts in the modern era. 

Noteworthy

• Nick Gonzales started the game 0 for 4 but drew a walk in the top of the ninth to extend his career-long on-base streak to 13 games.
• Billy Cook stole the first base of his career.

Up Next

The Pirates have a day off on Monday before the start of their final home series of the year against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. Bailey Falter (8-8, 4.15 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh opposite Tobias Myers (8-6, 3.05 ERA). First pitch: 6:40 ET.