Paul Skenes' ERA dropped to 1.83 after tossing six scoreless innings, while striking out nine, walking one, allowing three hits and eliciting 20 whiffs on 49 swings to lead the Pirates to a 6-0 win over the Diamondbacks this afternoon at PNC Park.
Oneil Cruz scored the winning run in the second inning, blazing around the bases from first base on a single to center by Tommy Pham. He'd knock in two with an RBI single in third inning and RBI double in the sixth inning.
“You see it. The speed, the arm, the power,” Don Kelly said of Cruz. “And his at-bats, even his last one. Really good swings, battled at the plate, was able to foul off some balls. He wasn’t able to get a hit but that’s the grit and grind we’re talking about when he goes up there, finding a way to make the pitcher work. The base hit that he got when Bryan (Reynolds) hit the (double) down the line, it was 112 mph that he hits the ball to right field. Off the bat, you don’t even think it’s that hard but that’s how hard he hits the ball.”
The Pirates limited the Diamondbacks to a singular unearned run en route to taking two of three games. They’ve now won five of their last six games.
• Lost 12 of past 18 • 6-9 vs. NL West • 32-36 under Kelly
► THE NUMBER
27: Consecutive starts with a scoreless first inning for Skenes, the longest such stretch by a Pirates pitcher since RickRhoden (32) from June 20, 1982 to June 2,1983
► THE NEXT THREE
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THE ASYLUM
Pirates 6, Diamondbacks 0: A blaze and 20 whiffs
Paul Skenes' ERA dropped to 1.83 after tossing six scoreless innings, while striking out nine, walking one, allowing three hits and eliciting 20 whiffs on 49 swings to lead the Pirates to a 6-0 win over the Diamondbacks this afternoon at PNC Park.
Oneil Cruz scored the winning run in the second inning, blazing around the bases from first base on a single to center by Tommy Pham. He'd knock in two with an RBI single in third inning and RBI double in the sixth inning.
“You see it. The speed, the arm, the power,” Don Kelly said of Cruz. “And his at-bats, even his last one. Really good swings, battled at the plate, was able to foul off some balls. He wasn’t able to get a hit but that’s the grit and grind we’re talking about when he goes up there, finding a way to make the pitcher work. The base hit that he got when Bryan (Reynolds) hit the (double) down the line, it was 112 mph that he hits the ball to right field. Off the bat, you don’t even think it’s that hard but that’s how hard he hits the ball.”
The Pirates limited the Diamondbacks to a singular unearned run en route to taking two of three games. They’ve now won five of their last six games.
► THE COVERAGE
From our staff on the scene:
• News: Cherington talks deadline approach
► THE HIGHLIGHTS
MORE POSTGAME VIDEO
• Manager: Kelly's press conference
• Players: Inside the clubhouse
► THE BOXSCORE
► MORE GAME DATA
• Hitter breakdowns
• Pitcher breakdowns
• Updated statistics
• Season schedule
► THE STANDINGS
► THE TRENDS
• Lost 12 of past 18
• 6-9 vs. NL West
• 32-36 under Kelly
► THE NUMBER
27: Consecutive starts with a scoreless first inning for Skenes, the longest such stretch by a Pirates pitcher since Rick Rhoden (32) from June 20, 1982 to June 2,1983
► THE NEXT THREE
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