Paul Skenes delivered an impressive performance on Thursday night as he led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a commanding 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Skenes struck out eight batters across six shutout innings, marking his fourth career win against Cincinnati and leaving him undefeated against the team. Notably, he allowed seven hits, the highest total of his career, and ended his remarkable streak of not allowing more than six hits in his first 46 games.
With this outing, Skenes extended his scoreless streak to 27 2/3 innings, not having allowed a run since June 8 against Philadelphia. His ERA now sits at an impressive MLB-best 1.94.
The Pirates got off to a strong start with Bryan Reynolds hitting a solo homer in the first inning, followed by Jared Triolo contributing two RBIs to boost the team’s lead. The Pirates have shown a strong offensive presence, scoring 18 runs in the first inning over their last seven games.
In the fourth inning, Spencer Horwitz added an RBI single before Reynolds’ two-out single led to Reds’ pitcher Brady Singer being replaced. Oneil Cruz then chipped in with an additional RBI single in the sixth, while Henry Davis sealed the game with a two-run homer in the seventh.
It’s worth noting that Ke’Bryan Hayes made his return to Pittsburgh after a trade sent him to Cincinnati, going 1 for 3 during the game.
The Pirates will continue their series against the Reds, with RHP Chase Burns (0-3, 6.04) set to go against RHP Mitch Keller (5-10, 3.89) in the following matchup.
Overall, this game solidifies the Pirates’ recent momentum and showcases the growing talents of their younger players, specifically Skenes, who stands out as a promising talent in this burgeoning Pittsburgh team.