Skenes shines as Pirates capitalize on Blue Jays' errors for 5-2 win
Skenes bounced back from a rare shaky performance in his previous start to limit the American League-leading Blue Jays to two runs over six innings. The burly 23-year-old struck out eight against one walk as his ERA ticked up to 2.16.
Evan Sisk (1-1) picked up his first big league victory with a scoreless seventh. Dennis Santana worked the ninth for his eighth save as the Pirates won for just the second time in nine games.
Henry Davis doubled off Yariel Rodríguez (2-1) leading off the seventh, and scored on a wild pitch by Brendon Little to put Pittsburgh in front to stay. Spencer Horwitz, a former Toronto first baseman, had two hits for the Pirates.
The Blue Jays touched Skenes for two runs in the third inning on a fielder's choice RBI by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and a run-scoring single by Bo Bichette.
Guerrero later exited in the fifth inning with left hamstring tightness, not long after going into a full split to field a throw from Bichette at short to end the bottom of the fourth.
Toronto committed three errors — including one in the eighth that led directly to a run — in addition to Little's wild pitch during an unusually chippy night. The benches cleared briefly in the seventh when Pittsburgh's Tommy Pham jawed with Blue Jays catcher Tyler Heineman after getting walked.
Key moment
Toronto's George Springer led off the eighth with a single, but Pirates reliever Kyle Nicolas induced Addison Barger to hit into a double play to end the threat.
Key stat
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
9 — the number of times in 10 no-decisions by Skenes this year that he has allowed two runs or fewer.
Up next
Toronto's Max Scherzer (3-2, 3.83 ERA) goes for his 220th career victory on Tuesday when the three-time Cy Young winner faces Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller (5-11, 4.13).
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Pirates take on the Blue Jays in series rubber match
Toronto Blue Jays (74-53, first in the AL East) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (53-74, fifth in the NL Central) Pittsburgh; Wednesday, 12:35 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Blue Jays: Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.22 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 132 strikeouts); Pirates: Johan Oviedo (0-0) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Jays -154, Pirates +129; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: Both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Toronto Blue Jays are looking for a series win with a victory on Wednesday. Pittsburgh has gone 35-30 in home games and 53-74 overall. The Pirates are 16-51 in games when they have allowed at least one home run. Toronto is 74-53 overall and 32-32 in road games. The Blue Jays have the highest team batting average in the AL at .268. The matchup Wednesday is the third meeting between these teams this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has 30 doubles and 21 home runs while hitting .298 for the Blue Jays. Daulton Varsho is 11 for 33 with two doubles and four home runs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 2-8, .222 batting average, 6.56 ERA, outscored by 37 runs Blue Jays: 6-4, .245 batting average, 4.19 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs INJURIES: Pirates: Oneil Cruz: 7-Day IL (concussion), Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Enmanuel Valdez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Justin Lawrence: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tim Mayza: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jared Jones: 60-Day IL (elbow) Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: day-to-day (hamstring), Shane Bieber: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (ankle), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Canada News.Net
8 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
Johan Oviedo returns for Pirates to face Blue Jays
(Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) Right-hander Johan Oviedo will get another chance to stick in Pittsburgh's rotation on Wednesday afternoon when he makes his second start of the season for the host Pirates against the Toronto Blue Jays. Oviedo (0-0, 18.00 ERA) will oppose Toronto right-hander Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.22) in the decisive game of a three-game series. It will be Oviedo's first start since Aug. 4 when he made a brief return to the majors after sitting out more than a year following Tommy John surgery. Oviedo pitched only one inning against the San Francisco Giants that day and struggled, throwing 43 pitches and allowing two runs on two hits and three walks despite striking out three. He was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis the next day. Over the past two weeks, Oviedo made two starts at Triple-A and threw 8 2/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned), six hits and three walks while striking out 15. 'He went down and handled what he needed to with the competitiveness that he consistently shows,' Pirates manager Don Kelly said on Tuesday. 'I'm just really proud of the way he handled that because it's not easy to do. Going through that whole journey to get back here, and then you pitch one inning and it doesn't go the way you planned and you find yourself back in Triple-A.' Oviedo, who has a 13-25 career record and made 58 starts and 72 appearances overall before being sidelined following the 2023 season, was projected to open the 2025 campaign in the Pirates' rotation. However, a lat injury in spring training delayed his return by months. Oviedo is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two career starts against Toronto. Pittsburgh will need to make a roster move to clear space for his recall from the minors prior to the Wednesday game. Oviedo will face a Toronto lineup that regained its form on Tuesday during a 7-3 win. Alejandro Kirk and George Springer each homered for the Blue Jays, who hold a five-game lead in the American League East. Toronto manager John Schneider said that Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who sat out on Tuesday after exiting the Monday game with left hamstring tightness, was feeling better. However, it's likely the first baseman will not return to the lineup on Wednesday. 'It was just inflammation, which is good,' Schneider said before the Tuesday game about the results of the MRI Guerrero underwent earlier in the day. On the mound, Bassitt will be looking for his first win since July 23 against the New York Yankees. He is entering what could be a crucial start as he tries to retain a spot in the rotation with the team debut of Shane Bieber looming on Friday. Bassitt last pitched on Friday against the Texas Rangers in Toronto. He allowed three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out four over five innings. Bassitt left with a no-decision in a game Toronto eventually won 6-5. Bassitt, who is 8-0 with a 2.73 ERA in 14 starts at home, has been a far different pitcher away from Toronto. On the road, he is 3-6 with a 6.39 ERA in 11 starts and one relief appearance. Bassitt, however, is a perfect 4-0 for his career with a 2.10 ERA in five starts against the Pirates.
Canada News.Net
8 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
MLB roundup: Yankees hit record-tying 9 HRs, rout Rays
(Photo credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images) Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton hammered consecutive homers in the first inning as the New York Yankees powered past the host Tampa Bay Rays 13-3 by belting a franchise-record-tying nine home runs on Tuesday. New York matched the club record established earlier this year in a 20-9 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on March 29. The major league mark is 10 homers, set by the Toronto Blue Jays in an 18-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 14, 1987. After the teams sat through a lighting and rain delay of 1 hour, 55 minutes, the second batter of the game, Judge, launched a 429-foot shot off Shane Baz (8-10) for his 40th long ball of the year. Bellinger followed by yanking one to right, and then Stanton drove one the other way to right-center for a 3-0 lead. Bellinger finished 4-for-5 with two homers, three runs and three RBIs. Stanton slugged two home runs and drove in four. Judge went 2-for-5 with a walk and three runs. New York's Jose Caballero also had a two-homer night while Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice each had solo shots. Tigers 1, Astros 0 (10 inn.) Gleyber Torres walked with the bases loaded in the 10th inning as host Detroit edged slumping Houston. With two outs, Torres took a 3-2 pitch from Kaleb Ort (2-2), who issued two other walks (one intentional) in the inning. Automatic runner Wenceel Perez scored the lone run. The game featured a pitchers' duel between American League All-Stars Hunter Brown and Tarik Skubal. Houston's Brown gave up five hits and struck out six in six innings, while Skubal limited the Astros to three hits and fanned 10 in seven innings. Will Vest (6-2) pitched the last two innings to pick up the win. Houston was shut out for the fourth time in five games and hasn't scored a run in 28 innings. Braves 11, White Sox 10 Drake Baldwin delivered a two-run single with two outs in the eighth inning as Atlanta rallied from a 10-4 deficit to beat visiting Chicago. The Braves scored five runs in the seventh to pull within 10-9 before capping the rally on Baldwin's bases-loaded single to right. Michael Harris II and Jurickson Profar each delivered a two-run homer as Atlanta posted its sixth win in seven games. Kyle Teel hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs while Luis Robert Jr. contributed a three-run double for the White Sox, who won the series opener 13-9 on Monday. Mets 8, Nationals 1 David Peterson struck out a season-high 10 batters over eight innings and Mark Vientos belted a two-run homer to highlight a five-run third, fueling New York past host Washington Peterson (8-5) permitted one run on four hits and one walk while improving to 7-1 vs. the Nationals in his career. On June 11, he tossed his first career complete game in a 5-0 victory over Washington. New York also got solo homers from Jeff McNeil, Brett Baty and Juan Soto as the Mets won their third straight game following a 2-14 slide. Jake Irvin (8-8) gave up six runs on eight hits over six innings and took the loss. Phillies 6, Mariners 4 J.T. Realmuto slugged a two-run homer in the eighth to lift Philadelphia over visiting Seattle. Kyle Schwarber delivered his 44th homer while Bryson Stott also homered. Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez struck out 12 over 6 1/3 innings while allowing six hits and two runs. David Robertson (1-0) threw a perfect eighth and Jhoan Duran (22nd save) set down the side in the ninth. Eugenio Suarez went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs for the Mariners, who lost for the sixth time in seven games. Starter Bryce Miller allowed four runs over five innings in his first appearance since June 6. Matt Brash (1-2) surrendered Realmuto's game-winning blast. Blue Jays 7, Pirates 3 Alejandro Kirk homered, scored three runs and drove in three to pace Toronto to the victory over host Pittsburgh. Max Scherzer (4-2) picked up his 220th career win as he allowed one run on four hits over six innings. George Springer went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer for the Blue Jays while Nathan Lukes added two hits and two RBIs. Pirates starter Mitch Keller (5-12) left with one out in the fourth after surrendering five runs on seven hits and three walks. Bryan Reynolds, Nick Gonzales and Joey Bart posted two hits apiece. Cubs 6, Brewers 4 (Game 1) Rookie Owen Caissie hit his first major league home run and drove in three runs in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader, helping Chicago post a victory over visiting Milwaukee. Willi Castro belted a three-run homer for the Cubs. Chicago starter Matthew Boyd (12-6) threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Daniel Palencia pitched into and out of a ninth-inning jam for his 17th save. Christian Yelich went deep for the Brewers, while Sal Frelick had two hits and two RBIs. Chad Patrick (3-8) gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits in five innings. Cubs 4, Brewers 1 (Game 2) Jameson Taillon threw six quality innings and Michael Busch drove in two runs as Chicago beat visiting Milwaukee to complete a doubleheader sweep. Taillon (8-6) allowed one run on five hits in his return from the injured list, having recovered from a right calf strain that kept him out since late June. Andrew Kittredge threw a perfect ninth inning for his second save. Brandon Woodruff (4-1) surrendered three runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings for the Brewers, who dropped back-to-back games for the first time since July 25-26. Cardinals 7, Marlins 4 Ivan Herrera drove in three runs with a pair of hits to lead St. Louis over host Miami. Michael McGreevy (5-2) earned the win, allowing six hits and four runs (three earned) in six innings. Riley O'Brien earned his second save by pitching a scoreless ninth. Edward Cabrera (6-7) took the loss, lasting just 4 1/3 innings while allowing season-highs in hits (11) and runs (six, four earned). Xavier Edwards was the lone Marlin with multiple hits (2) and he scored twice, while Otto Lopez drove in a pair. Thomas Saggese added three hits, scored twice and drove in a run for the Cardinals. St. Louis pounded out 12 hits, including 11 singles. Royals 5, Rangers 2 Bobby Witt Jr. clubbed his 100th career homer, Vinnie Pasquantino and Mike Yastrzemski also went deep, as Kansas City edged Texas. Royals' starter Seth Lugo yielded only two runs, on solo homers to Corey Seager and Joc Pederson, in 6 1/3 innings. Angel Zerpa (4-1) threw 1 2/3 innings in relief, and John Schreiber handled the ninth inning for his first save of the year. Lugo dueled with Rangers' new acquisition Merrill Kelly, whose only hits allowed in six innings were two homers. Hoby Milner (1-3) suffered the loss in relief. Orioles 4, Red Sox 3 (11 inn.) Samuel Basallo hit a go-ahead groundout in the 11th inning as visiting Baltimore defeated Boston. The Orioles earned their sixth win in seven games despite being out-hit 8-6. Baltimore's Ryan Mountcastle and Colton Cowser had a hit and an RBI. Yennier Cano (2-6) tossed a scoreless 10th inning and Corbin Martin posted his second save. In his first Red Sox start, Nathaniel Lowe hit a game-tying, two-run home run to right in the ninth to force extra innings. Roman Anthony, Connor Wong and Romy Gonzalez all had two hits for Boston, which has lost three in a row. Garrett Whitlock (5-3) yielded an unearned run in the 11th. Dodgers 11, Rockies 4 Alex Call and Shohei Ohtani homered and Emmet Sheehan tossed six solid innings as Los Angeles topped host Colorado in Denver. Call tied a career high with four hits, including a double and two singles to along with the home run. Will Smith had three hits and Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Mookie Betts and Miguel Rojas had two hits apiece for the Dodgers, who have won four of their last five games after a four-game skid. Sheehan (4-2) allowed four runs on six hits and struck out seven. Kyle Karros hit his first major league home run, Brenton Doyle also went deep and Ezequiel Tovar and Warming Bernabel had two hits each for the Rockies, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Lefty starter Austin Gomber (0-7) allowed seven runs on nine hits in three innings. Athletics 6, Twins 3 Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer, Brett Harris drove in a pair of runs and the Athletics beat Minnesota in Minneapolis. Nick Kurtz finished 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI for the Athletics, who earned their fourth win in five games. Jacob Lopez (7-6) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in six innings, and Hogan Harris pitched a perfect inning fir his first career save. Brooks Lee and Ryan Jeffers each hit a solo home run for the Twins, who have lost four of five. Joe Ryan (12-6) surrendered five runs (two earned) on six hits in four innings. Reds 6, Angels 4 TJ Friedl drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and Gavin Lux followed with an insurance RBI double as Cincinnati defeated Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif., for its third straight win. Miguel Andujar went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, Noelvi Marte homered, doubled and drove in two runs for the Reds. Luis Mey (2-0) picked up the win in relief and Tony Santillan notched his fourth save. Hunter Greene fanned 12 in 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball. Jo Adell hit two home runs and had three hits and Mike Trout went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run for the Angels. Kenley Jansen (5-3) allowed both runs in the ninth. Padres 5, Giants 1 Nick Pivetta fired six dominant innings as San Diego snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over visiting San Francisco. Pivetta (13-4) allowed just three hits and a run while walking two and striking out 10. Manny Machado and Ryan O'Hearn each had two hits and an RBI. Jung Hoo Lee hit a game-opening homer for the Giants' lone run. Kai-Wei Teng (1-3) yielded three hits and three runs -- two earned -- over 3 1/3 innings. Diamondbacks 6, Guardians 5 Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s two-run single broke a tie in the seventh, Corbin Carroll had his fourth two-triple game of the season and Arizona broke a four-game losing streak with a win over Cleveland in Phoenix. Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer and Nolan Jones and Angel Martinez had two hits apiece for the Guardians, who have lost four of five and remain three games out of the third and final American League wild-card position. Carroll has a career-high and major league-leading 16 triples and is on pace to lead the majors for the third straight season. He is the sixth player in the modern era (since 1901) with four two-triple games in the same season, the first since Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford in 2004.
