The Pittsburgh Pirates capped off their three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a commanding 6-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park. The win marked the Pirates' 13th shutout of the season and showcased their pitching dominance, as they allowed only one run across the entire series. Paul Skenes, the Pirates' ace, was the star of the show, delivering yet another masterful performance on the mound.
Skenes pitched six scoreless innings, striking out nine batters while allowing just three hits and one walk. His ability to escape multiple jams, including stranding runners in scoring position in the second, third, and fourth innings, highlighted his poise and precision. With this outing, Skenes lowered his ERA to a league-best 1.83 and improved his record to 6-8 on the season. In 22 starts this year, he has amassed 137 strikeouts, walked 31 batters, and allowed only six home runs over 127 innings, solidifying his status as one of the most dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball.
The Pirates' offense provided ample support for Skenes, with contributions from several key players. Oneil Cruz led the charge, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and scoring a run in spectacular fashion by racing from first to home on a single. Bryan Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes also chipped in with crucial hits, while Tommy Pham added a ground-rule double to keep the momentum alive. The Pirates' ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities ensured a comfortable lead throughout the game.
This series win against the Diamondbacks once again showcased the Pirates dominance on the mound. It poses the question, where would the Pirates be sitting if they had timely hitting early in the year? Pittsburgh travels to San Francisco next as the trade deadline in this coming Thursday. There should be a lot of changes to this roster by the time they come back home next week.
(photo courtesy of MLB.com)