North Shore Nine

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the St. Louis Cardinals tonight 2-1. The Pirates loaded the bases twice failing to score. Skenes was again phenomenal only allowing a solo home run and a RBI single over 8.1 innings. Which was enough to sink the Pirates and their listless bats.

Paul Skenes picked up where he left off starting the game with a pair of scoreless innings. In the bottom of the second the Pirates loaded the bases but Andrew McCutchen popped out to end the threat. Skenes came out for the 3rd and gave up his first hit since before the All-Star game, but still threw a scoreless frame. He followed that up with a similar scoreless 4th. Pirates went 1-2-3 in their half the 4th bringing the game to the 5th tied at 0.

Nolan Arrenado lead off the 5th with a solo home run, a ball Bryan Reynolds almost saved. In response, Skenes then struck out the next three batters he faced. Jack Suwinski led the 5th off with a screaming double off the RF wall. Two out later brought up Reynolds who walked on 4 pitches. Then Oneil Cruz walked to again load the bases for the Pirates. However, Nick Gonzales grounded out weekly on a 1-1 count to end the threat.

Another 1-2-3 inning for Skenes in the 6th, leaving it up to the bats to take some action. Which they again fail to do sending the game to the 7th. Skenes goes 1-2-3 again and sat at 78 pitches thrown going into the bottom of the 7th. Connor Joe lead off the inning with a single, he was quickly erased by a double play. Cutch then struck out to end the inning, as Skenes came back out to pitch the 8th.

Skenes again dazzled in the 8th easily shutting the door once again on the Cards. Cruz then doubled with one out in the bottom of the 8th giving the Pirates a gleam of hope. Gonzales then did what he does and singled him home to tie the game. Ke’Bryan Hayes then pinch hit, hitting into an inning ending double play. The roar of over 30k greeted Skenes as he took the mound in the top of the 9th. However, a leadoff double and a one out single gave the Cards the lead and chased Skenes from the game. The Pirates then stuck out in all three at bats in the bottom of the frame to finish the loss.

The Pirates will be back in action tomorrow night with Martin Perez on the mound for the Bucs. He will face off against the left hander Matthew Liberatore. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 PM EST.