North Shore Nine

The Pirates dropped their seventh straight game Friday night, falling 2-1 to the Minnesota Twins despite another solid performance from Paul Skenes. The 2023 No. 1 pick tossed five strong innings, allowing just two runs while now owning a jaw-dropping 2.01 ERA heading into the All-Star Game. Still, he took the loss — now 4-8 on the year — with just one win in his last 14 starts. It’s not just unlucky. It’s infuriating.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa drove in the lone Pirates run, but the offense was otherwise silent. Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes were held hitless. Carmen Mlodzinski did his job, but with no run support, it didn’t matter.

The big question? Why does Skenes keep getting pulled early. Yes, the All-Star Game is next week, but pulling your ace mid-outing in a winnable game raises eyebrows — and tempers.

On the latest NS9 Postgame, DiNardo and Neil vent the same frustration fans are feeling. Are the Pirates managing a pitcher or managing appearances?

Catch the full breakdown, hear our unfiltered takes, and let us know how you’d fix this mess.

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