Pirates Take Series as Paul Skenes Gets Back on Track

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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes reacts after striking out Arizona Diamondbacks' Josh Naylor in the first inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The Pirates (52-48) took the game and their series in Cleveland on Sunday, July 19, winning 7-1 as starter Paul Skenes got back on track with seven strong innings and the offense continued to roll.

Scoring Plays

Top 2nd, 1-0 PIT: Pittsburgh broke the ice in the second inning with a two-out single from Billy Cook. The Pirates seemed primed to waste a leadoff double from Nick Gonzales after two quick outs, but Cook fought off an 0-2 curveball to take the lead.

Bottom 3rd, 1-1: Three straight singles and a Henry Davis error on a bunt tied the game.

Top 5th, 2-1 PIT: Cook continued his heater with a leadoff triple, then manufactured a run as he drew an errant pickoff throw and raced home.

Top 6th, 5-1 PIT: The Pirates started to pile on in the sixth with doubles from Nick Gonzales and Jacob Gonzalez; Cook and Jake Mangum added RBI singles to push the lead to four.

Top 9th, 7-1 PIT: Esmerlyn Valdez hit his 13th career home run, a two-run blast that gave the Pirates’ bullpen more breathing room.

Key Moment

Defense turned into offense in the fourth inning, when Billy Cook caught a potential sacrifice fly in center field with runners at the corners. Instead, he nailed the lead runner at the plate and kept the game tied. Cook began the following frame with a triple that soon put the Pirates in front.

Player of the Game

Cook enjoyed a career day from the nine-hole, going 3-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored, a triple and an outfield assist. He also went 2-for-2 with runners in scoring position and stole a base.

Stat to Know​

Paul Skenes pitched into the seventh inning for the first time since May 12, striking out nine batters and allowing just one run. He last pitched July 12 against Milwaukee, and a week off seems to have done him some good.

Noteworthy

• Esmerlyn Valdez notched an RBI for the seventh game in a row, matching the longest streak for a Pirate since 2000.
• The Pirates haven’t had a starter pitch into the eighth inning since May 21.
• Billy Cook logged his first RBI since Sept. 21, 2024.
• Rookie right-hander Khristian Curtis, who covered five scoreless innings in his big league debut on July 18, was optioned to Triple-A.

Notable Performances

• Paul Skenes: 7 IP, 1 ER, 9 K’s
• Billy Cook: 3-for-4 with a triple and a steal
• Esmerlyn Valdez: 1-for-3 with a homer and two walks
• Jared Triolo: 2-for-3 with two walks
• Nick Gonzales: 2-for-5 with two doubles.

Up Next

The Pirates will travel to the Bronx on Monday, July 20 to take on the Yankees. Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.49 ERA, 128 SO) will duel lefty Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.15 ERA, 110 SO).


The post Pirates Take Series as Paul Skenes Gets Back on Track appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

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