Paul Skenes didn't get run support tonight in the Pirates' 1-0 win over the Cardinals at PNC Park, but he surely got defensive support to preserve the team's ninth shutout.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa caught a line drive in the second inning and doubled off Brendan Donovan at first, following an exceptional catch by Spencer Horwitz, which stranded a runner at third.
• Tommy Pham gunned down Willson Contreras at the plate in the fourth for his fourth outfield assist of the season.
• Horwitz fielded a groundball from Victor Scott II in the ninth and threw a strike to Henry Davis to eliminate the game-tying run.
"They work every day for it. I think we've seen it throughout the year," said Skenes, who worked five innings but didn't give up a run while allowing five hits. "I think today was just one of the games where we saw it a lot because we got in positions where they could make really good plays. I wasn't surprised to see any of the plays, but definitely pleased with it."
Of his run-saving play, Horwitz said: "Those are the ones you practice, the do-or-die, bottom of the ninth with one out and the tying run at third. You just gotta do it. We do it every day, that play. I don't know if it's second nature, but it's definitely not the first time I've done it."
The Pirates now have the 12th-best fielding percentage (.987) in Major League Baseball and have performed at a high level since Don Kelly took over on May 8.
"These guys, they practice that every day and sometimes you see teams that go through the motions," Kelly said. "Our guys, there’s intent there and I think that the intent that they’ve had in that practice translates over into the game."
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
11:33 pm - 07.01.2025North ShoreDefense backs Skenes ... again
Paul Skenes didn't get run support tonight in the Pirates' 1-0 win over the Cardinals at PNC Park, but he surely got defensive support to preserve the team's ninth shutout.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa caught a line drive in the second inning and doubled off Brendan Donovan at first, following an exceptional catch by Spencer Horwitz, which stranded a runner at third.
• Tommy Pham gunned down Willson Contreras at the plate in the fourth for his fourth outfield assist of the season.
• Horwitz fielded a groundball from Victor Scott II in the ninth and threw a strike to Henry Davis to eliminate the game-tying run.
"They work every day for it. I think we've seen it throughout the year," said Skenes, who worked five innings but didn't give up a run while allowing five hits. "I think today was just one of the games where we saw it a lot because we got in positions where they could make really good plays. I wasn't surprised to see any of the plays, but definitely pleased with it."
Of his run-saving play, Horwitz said: "Those are the ones you practice, the do-or-die, bottom of the ninth with one out and the tying run at third. You just gotta do it. We do it every day, that play. I don't know if it's second nature, but it's definitely not the first time I've done it."
The Pirates now have the 12th-best fielding percentage (.987) in Major League Baseball and have performed at a high level since Don Kelly took over on May 8.
"These guys, they practice that every day and sometimes you see teams that go through the motions," Kelly said. "Our guys, there’s intent there and I think that the intent that they’ve had in that practice translates over into the game."
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