North Shore Nine

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened the 2025 season with excitement and optimism, thanks to a strong start from phenom Paul Skenes. Facing off against former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, Skenes held his own, tossing 5.1 innings with 7 strikeouts and just 2 earned runs. Unfortunately, the rest of the team didn’t back him up.

Defensive miscues, particularly from Oneil Cruz in center field, and a bullpen meltdown featuring Dennis Santana, Colin Holderman, and David Bednar turned a 4–1 Pirates lead into a painful 5–4 loss. Joey Bart also struggled behind the plate, and offensive chances were wasted, going just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

There were bright spots: Ke’Bryan Hayes played stellar defense and swiped two bases, while Nick Gonzales homered before leaving with an ankle injury.

The NS9 crew recaps it all in their Opening Day postgame show — frustration, optimism, and the full Pirates experience.