North Shore Nine

Paul Skenes was untouchable again as the Pirates completed a sweep of the Phillies with a 2-1 win at PNC Park. Skenes went 7.2 innings, allowing just two hits and no earned runs, lowering his ERA to an absurd 1.88. The Pirates got just enough offense behind him, with Jared Triolo and Ke’Bryan Hayes each tallying two hits, and Andrew McCutchen driving in the game-winner after an Oneil Cruz walk and stolen base. Braxton Ashcraft came in to close the door with four key outs, giving the Pirates a rare win on a day Skenes pitched. The bats weren’t pretty—12 strikeouts and not much else—but the pitching delivered. Is Cruz’s spot atop the lineup still justified against lefties? Are we seeing the emergence of Ashcraft as a bullpen weapon? And how much longer do we ride with Alexander Canario? We break it all down on this episode.

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