Pirates Split Squad Recap: Home Run Barrage Backs Paul Skenes; Three Hits for IKF

Pirates vs. Twins

Three players went deep and Paul Skenes had a solid start for the Pittsburgh Pirates in their 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in Bradenton on Monday afternoon.

Skenes, who was announced as the Pirates’ Opening Day starter over the weekend, allowed one run and struck out seven in 4.2 innings pitched. The right-hander dealt with traffic with five hits allowed and three walks but was able to limit the damage.

Skenes leads the Pirates with 14.2 innings pitched (four starts) and is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA. He’s yielded 17 hits including one home run, has walked eight and struck out 19 batters.

Offensively, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds each hit their first home run of the spring. Hayes snuck one over the right field fence, a two-run shot that put the Pirates ahead 2-1 in the second inning. In the sixth, Reynolds hit a 381-foot home run to center field.

Ke goes the opposite way for a 2-run homer! pic.twitter.com/8Pt14SI50C

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 17, 2025

Joey Bart also homered for the Pirates. His third home run of the spring came in the fourth inning. So far during spring training, Bart is slashing an impressive .357/.457/.679 in 11 games.

Notable Performances

• Paul Skenes: 4.2 innings, five hits, one run, three walks, seven strikeouts
• Caleb Ferguson: 1.0 inning, no hits, no runs, no walks, three strikeouts
• Ryan Borucki: 1.0 inning, no hits, no runs, no walks, three strikeouts
• Joey Bart: 1 for 2, one home run, one RBI, two runs, one walk
• Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 3, one home run, two RBIs, one run
• Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 3, one home run, one RBI, one run
• Nick Yorke: 2 for 3

Pirates at Tigers

Isiah Kiner-Falefa recorded a three-hit game and scored a run but it wasn’t enough for the Pirates in their 9-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland.

With three hits in the loss — all of which were singles, Kiner-Falefa is now batting .353 (12 for 34).

Left-hander Bailey Falter (three earned runs in 2.1 innings) struggled in what was his third start of the spring and first time he’s pitched since he was scratched from his start on Thursday.

Notable Performances

• Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 3 for 4, one run
• Endy Rodríguez: 1 for 3, one triple, one RBI, two runs, one walk
• Jack Suwinski: 1 for 2, one double, one RBI, one run, one walk
• Nick Gonzales: 1 for 4, one double, two RBIs
• Bailey Falter: 2.1 innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, four strikeouts

Back to one game on Tuesday, when the Pirates face the Philadelphia Phillies in Bradenton at 1:05 ET.