PIRATES

Paul Skenes threw a season-high 109 pitches and still didn't make it out of the fifth inning in the Pirates' 11-9 loss to the Astros here tonight at Daikin Park.

A lack of defensive support, particularly on four plays that Nick Gonzales should have made over at third base, cost Skenes some pitches throughout the outing, but he also had to battle through tough at-bats just to finish off 4 2/3 innings. Houston hitters fouled off 23 pitches against Skenes and Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez proved to be bothersome at the top of the lineup, going a combined 4 for 5 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored against him. 

"They put together good at-bats," said Skenes, who ended up allowing three runs on seven hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. "Peña had at least one long at-bat and they did a good job." 

Skenes struggled to get ahead of guys at times, and it cost him, especially right before his fifth-inning departure. He fell behind Peña 3-0 before eventually giving up a single and was behind Alvarez, too, as the final outcome was the same. Skenes battled to strike out the next two batters and even got the go-ahead from Don Kelly to stay in the game to face one more batter. But, once again, he fell behind Cam Smith and ended up allowing a third and final run on an RBI single that ended his day. 

"Just gotta get ahead," Skenes said. "That last at-bat, obviously, Donnie goes out and then I go 2-0. That can't happen." 

Skenes has now gone four straight outings in which he's thrown less than six innings. He's given up three or more runs on six or more hits in three of those starts and has watched his season ERA swell from 1.98 on May 12 to 3.09 on this day.