Final Score: Pirates 10 Diamondbacks 1
Why The Pirates Won: The offense came alive in a big way. They scored 10 runs on 11 hits and 3 walks. Every member of the starting lineup either got a hit, drove in a run or scored a run. Even Jared Triolo had two hits to raise his average above the Triolo line to .152. The Pirates had 4 extra base hits including Oneil Cruz’s 12th home run that put icing on the cake in the top of the 8th. All of this was more than enough to give Paul Skenes an easy win. He was his usual brilliant self going 6 and 2/3 innings. He gave up no runs, 4 hits, no walks, while striking out 7. This lowered his ERA to 2.15. More on Paul Skenes tomorrow. Two rare days in a row. A big comeback win on Tuesday, followed by a blowout win yesterday. There may be hope for this team after all.
Key Moments Of The Game: After 4 innings the Pirates led 1-0. This looked like it was going to be another close low scoring game for Paul Skenes. In the top of the 5th the Pirates loaded the bases with no outs and Cruz was coming to the plate. Cruz grounded to second. The Diamondbacks completely botched the play allowing the Pirates to score 2 runs. The Pirates had 2nd and 3rd with no outs leading 3-0. The Pirates went back into their old ways and could not score any more runs. Any good feeling the Diamondbacks may have had was squelched by Skenes. He retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning. The Pirates buried them in the 6th by scoring 5 runs. Isiah Kiner-Falefa got the big hit, doubling in 2 runs. The Pirates head to San Diego on a high note. They have a good chance to have a .500 road trip or even better.
Next Game: Tomorrow night, Padres in San Diego. For once the Pirates take some momentum into a series. Tomorrow’s blog will discuss Paul Skenes and some interesting decisions the Pirates will eventually have to make. One was delayed because Joey Bart got hit in the head. Stay tuned.
The Goofy Game of Golf/Life Searching for the Answer 