Pirates’ Paul Skenes Again Flirts With History, Shuts Down Rockies in Win

Danny Demilio |

May 12, 2026

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates — Photo provided by Matt Lynch

PITTSBURGH — For the third time in his last four starts, Paul Skenes flirted with a perfect game and a no-hitter in a dominant performance and a 3-1 win for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

Scoring Plays

Bottom 1st, 1-0 PIT: Nick Gonzales shot a two-out single through a wide-open right side of the infield off Michael Lorenzen (2-5). Oneil Cruz, who doubled on the first pitch he saw, scored from third.

Bottom 5th, 2-0 PIT: Cruz doubled again off Lorenzen with two outs and Brandon Lowe plated him with a base hit to right field.

Bottom 7th, 3-0 PIT: The Pirates (23-19) tacked on an insurance run when Bryan Reynolds reached on an infield single with the bases loaded and one out against Victor Vodnik.

Bottom 9th, 3-1 PIT: Hunter Goodman doubled home the first run of the game for the Rockies (16-26) with two outs in the ninth inning against Gregory Soto.

Key Moments

Paul Skenes’ perfect game bid was broken up after hitting Troy Johnston with a pitch with two outs in the fifth. Mickey Moniak broke up his no-hit bid with a single into shallow left-center with one out in the seventh.

Player of the Game

Paul Skenes (6-2) recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts (including the first six batters he faced) and held the Rockies to just one hit in what was one of the best starts of his MLB career.

For the second time in his career Paul Skenes has struck out 6 to start a game (7 on 5/17/24)! pic.twitter.com/6mCwC63rMJ
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 12, 2026

Stat to Know

Paul Skenes (6-2) is one one of four Major League pitchers in the Modern Era (since 1901) to pitch eight-scoreless innings while allowing two or fewer hits and issuing zero walks in back-to-back starts, joining Boston (AL)’s Cy Young (1905), Chicago (AL)’s Billy Pierce (1958) and San Diego’s Mat Latos (2010).

Notable Performances

Paul Skenes: 8.0 innings, two hits, no runs, no walks, 10 strikeouts, 98 pitches/68 strikes
Oneil Cruz: 3 for 4, two doubles, two runs
Nick Gonzales: 2 for 4, one double, one RBI
Spencer Horwitz: 2 for 3, one walk

Noteworthy

This was the second straight game and the third time in his last three starts that Paul Skenes retired at least the first 14 batters he faced. He retired the first 14 batters in Arizona on Wednesday and retired the first 20 batters he faced in Milwaukee on April 24.
Skenes has not allowed a run over his last 16 innings pitched.
Pirates starters have combined for a 1.58 ERA (7er/40ip) over their last six games.
Gregory Soto notched his fourth save of the season.
Spencer Horwitz extended his hitting streak to six games.
The Pirates recalled C/1B Endy Rodríguez and RHP Brandan Bidois from Triple-A Indianapolis. C Joey Bart (left foot infection) was placed on the 10-day injured list and RHP Cam Sanders was optioned to Indianapolis.

Up Next

RHP Mitch Keller (4-1, 2.87 ERA) will look to keep things rolling on Wednesday night. Former Pirates LHP Jose Quintana (1-2, 3.90 ERA) gets the start for the Rockies. First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB Network/93.7 The Fan.