North Shore Nine

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally stopped streaking. Paul Skenes grinded out 5 innings, the bats strung together just enough hits at the right times. Also, the bullpen did just enough to shut the door down the stretch of the game.

The Pittsburgh Pirates could not get the bats going through three innings, getting one hit. Paul Skenes had to pitch himself out of trouble a few times in the early going, having a few too many walks. But he gave up just as many hits as the Pirates offense got.
In the 4th Skenes started the inning giving up his 3rd walk of the night. The next batter Luke Raley hit a monster two-run shot to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead. Skenes immediately bared down and got the next three batters out. Pirates looked to do the same, leading the bottom of the frame with a walk to Bryan Reynolds. Oneil Cruz however grounded out pushing Reynolds to 2nd. Isiah Kiner-Falefa then doubled to the gap scoring Reynolds cutting the lead to 2-1. They could not score again in the inning, bringing the game to the 5th inning. In the top of the 5th Skenes went 1-2-3, keeping himself in line to pitch the sixth and giving the Pirates a chance to grab the tie or go ahead. Which is what happened when Yasmani Grandal got his second hit of the night, a massive solo shot into the right field seats. Michael A. Taylor then singled, stole second, went to third on a ball into the outfield. Andrew McCutchen then came on and hit a swallow Sac-fly to leftfield scoring Taylor making it 3-2 Pirates, going into the 6th.
Skenes got out of a leadoff double in the 6th. After a fly out to RF that put a man on third with one out, Skenes walked the next batter. However, a double play got him out of the inning with the lead and in line for the win. IKF started the frame with a perfect bunt, that landed him on 2nd after an errant throw. He went to 3rd on a Rowdy Tellez sharp groundout, bringing up the freezing Bryan De La Cruz. Who struck out after leading the count 3-1, on a bad call from the ump.
Kyle Nicolas came in for the 7th to pitch in relief of Skenes. Nicholas pitched a 1-2-3 inning to keep the game close. After a Grandal out, MAT singled then going to third on a Cutch single. It might have been a double but Cutch came up injured and was pulled from the game, With Ji Hwan Bae replacing him. Reynolds then struck out for the 2nd out. However, Cruz hit a double off the rightfielders diving head for a 2 run cushion, making the game 5-2. To make matters worse, Cruz pulled up lame as well being replaced by Jared Triolo. IRF then flew out to lead the game to the 8th inning and Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman faced the minimum batters in a relatively easy inning for him. Pirates added a hit by De La Cruz but nothing more in the bottom of the frame, brining David Bednar in for the 9th. Bednar then continued his recent streak, giving up a solo shot to the first batter of the inning. Raley then hit a screaming single to right field, brining the tying run to the plate. Bednar was able to get a big first out on a strikeout. Then another big K on a check swing on Mitch Haniger. Mariners then pinch hit, bring on Just Turner to face Bednar with two out and representing the tying run. Turner was called out on strikes to end the game and bring joy back to the hearts of Pirate fans.

The Pirates will be back in action again tomorrow versus the Seattle Marines. Game time is 1:05 PM EST with Bailey Falter expected to throw for the Pirates. He will go up against Luis Castillo of the Marines.