The Pittsburgh Pirates made headlines Thursday night at PNC Park, outdueling the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers 5–3 to complete a three-game series sweep. Paul Skenes was untouchable, firing six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits, striking out eight and walking one. The outing earned him his 10th win of the season and dropped his ERA to a major-league-best 1.98.
Pittsburgh’s offense got on the board in the third inning when Tommy Pham blooped an RBI single into center field. The Buccos then broke the game open in the fifth, plating four runs against Dodgers starter Blake Snell. Nick Yorke’s two-run double drove home Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen, and a fielder’s choice capped the frame at 5–0 before L.A. threatened late.
Perhaps the most remarkable part of the sweep isn’t the boxscore, but the resources behind it. Los Angeles fields one of baseball’s richest rosters, with an opening-day payroll north of $340 million, second only to the New York Mets, while the Pirates operate on a budget of roughly $83 million, ranking 27th in MLB by payroll.
The Dodgers never found an answer for Skenes all night, and Snell was tagged for five runs on nine hits in five innings. Los Angeles scratched across three runs in the ninth—highlighted by a Mookie Betts solo homer—but Pittsburgh’s bullpen held firm. Colin Holderman punched out the final batter for his first save of the year, sealing the stunning sweep.
Tomorrow, the Pirates turn their attention to another contender when the Milwaukee Brewers visit PNC Park. Pittsburgh will hand the ball to right-hander Johan Oviedo (2–0, 3.60 ERA), while Milwaukee counters with former Pirates righthander Quinn Priester (11–2, 3.28 ERA) in what should be an excellent pitching matchup.
(photo courtesy of ESPN)