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The Pittsburgh Pirates have a 20-17 record. They sit five games back in the NL Central. This is after evening their series in Arizona. Over the last 24 hours, the club rode an elite pitching performance to a 1-0 shutout victory at Chase Field.

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MLB Game Recap

Pittsburgh secured a 1-0 win over the Diamondbacks behind Paul Skenes’ masterful 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 7 K, 0 BB performance on 97 pitches. Brandon Lowe provided the game’s only run with a 435-foot solo home run in the first inning. Gregory Soto earned his second save by working around a ninth-inning walk. A pivotal defensive moment occurred in the second. A Pirates scoring threat was erased by a 3-2-5-6 double play. This happened due to a Henry Davis baserunning error.

Standout Performer

Paul Skenes was the undisputed star. He retired the first 14 batters he faced. He allowed only two hits across eight dominant innings. His final stat line of 8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, and 7 K lowered his season ERA to 2.36 and his WHIP to 0.71. Skenes needed just 82 pitches for the final seven innings. He punctuated his “masterpiece” by striking out the side in the eighth.

Key News & Notes

Farm Report

  • Triple-A: The Indianapolis Indians defeated Omaha 4-1. Endy Rodríguez went 1-for-1 with two walks and two RBIs. Starter Alika Kelly threw 6.1 scoreless innings.
  • Double-A: The Altoona Curve lost 19-4 to Bowie; Lonnie White Jr. provided a bright spot, going 2-for-4 with his first home run of the season and three RBIs.
  • High-A: The Greensboro Grasshoppers outlasted Greenville 13-12. Wyatt Sanford led the charge by going 3-for-5. He hit a home run, a double, and had five RBIs.
  • Single-A: The Bradenton Marauders beat Dunedin 7-1. Yordany De Los Santos hit a grand slam. He finished 1-for-5 with four RBIs to lead the offense.
  • Rookie: FCL Pirates no game

Looking Ahead

The Pirates conclude their three-game series tonight at 9:40 PM ET. Mitch Keller (3-1, 2.85 ERA) takes the hill for Pittsburgh against Arizona ace Zac Gallen (1-2, 4.45 ERA).

If Skenes continues to dominate like this, the Pirates are a legitimate threat to anyone in the National League. What do you think?

This article first appeared on Inside The Diamonds and was syndicated with permission.

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