At PNC Park, the Pirates beat the Blue Jays 5-2. Paul Skenes worked six innings, allowing two runs with eight strikeouts, and the bullpen closed it out. It was Pittsburgh’s second win in nine games, against a Toronto club that entered with the American League’s best record. Dennis Santana recorded the save.
Pittsburgh moved in front in the second. Nick Gonzales reached, Jared Triolo walked, and Alexander Canario ended a drought with a run-scoring single to center. Toronto briefly took a 2-1 lead in the third on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. fielder’s choice and a Bo Bichette single. Skenes then stabilized and completed six. The third-inning damage also ended his long home scoreless streaks.
The Pirates evened it 2-2 in the third. Spencer Horwitz and Tommy Pham reached, and Bryan Reynolds’ fielder’s choice brought in Horwitz as the Blue Jays failed to finish the play cleanly at the plate. From there, Skenes stacked zeroes while the game stayed level. His final line: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 8 K, 1 BB.
The seventh inning turned it. Henry Davis led off with a double, moved up on a sacrifice, and scored on a wild pitch to give Pittsburgh a 3-2 lead. Liover Peguero walked and advanced on a throwing error during a pickoff. Tensions rose after a Pham walk as both benches cleared; earlier in the inning, Toronto manager John Schneider had been ejected arguing balls and strikes. Evan Sisk delivered a scoreless frame and took the win.
Pittsburgh added insurance in the eighth with two runs, one coming on a Toronto throwing error and another on a Davis sacrifice fly that scored Canario. In the top half, Kyle Nicolas erased a leadoff single by inducing a double play, ending the last significant threat. Toronto committed three errors on the night, and Pittsburgh capitalized. Santana finished the ninth for save No. 8.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. exited early with left hamstring tightness; the team offered no further specifics. The series continues Tuesday with Max Scherzer scheduled for Toronto against Mitch Keller for Pittsburgh at 6:40 p.m. ET. Scherzer enters 3-2 with a 3.83 ERA; Keller is 5-11 with a 4.13 ERA.
(photo courtesy of WGAL)