Dominant outing from Paul Skenes wills Pirates to victory over Rays

Noah Hiles, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 2, 2025

Published in Baseball

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TAMPA, Fla. — From injuries to poor performances, few things have gone right so far this season for manager Derek Shelton’s club. But luckily for the Pirates, Paul Skenes decided enough was enough. Taking the mound after watching his team lose five of its first six games of the season, the 2024 National League Rookie of the Year took it upon himself to lead the Pirates back into the win column, throwing seven dominant innings en route to a 4-2 Pirates victory over the Rays on Wednesday afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Adam Frazier put the Pirates ahead early, driving a 1-2 change-up left over the plate into center field for a two-out single in the top of the second inning. The knock came one at-bat after Ke’Bryan Hayes, who led the inning off with a triple, was caught in a rundown between third and home on a grounder hit to the mound by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Oneil Cruz added to Pittsburgh’s lead three innings later, when he tagged Rays starter Ryan Pepiot, the game’s losing pitcher, for a solo homer to left-center field. The ball was hit sharply on a line, just getting over the wall.

A small lead was all Skenes needed during his outing. The power-pitching right-hander was lights out against Tampa Bay’s lineup, allowing only three hits while striking out six and walking none. Two of those six strikeouts came against the final pair of batters he faced. The final strikeout was recorded after falling behind in the count 3-0, ending the seventh inning with the Pirates ahead 2-1.

The Rays tagged Skenes for his lone run allowed in the bottom of the sixth. The run, however, was unearned. Jonny DeLuca started the inning with an infield single, then advanced to second on a throwing error from Kiner-Falefa. A pair of ground balls to second base moved DeLuca over to third and then brought him home, making the score 2-1.

Endy Rodriguez gave the Pirates a valuable insurance run in the top of the eighth inning, improving the team’s lead to 3-1 with a two-out single to center field. The knock brought home Jack Suwinski, who reached earlier in that frame on a single to right field. Tampa Bay, however, quickly responded, tagging Colin Holderman for a run in the bottom of the eighth.

Cruz put the Pirates back up by two runs with a sacrifice fly to deep center field in the top of the ninth. Dennis Santana then came on to close the game out, throwing a scoreless frame in the bottom half for his first save of the season.

The game was over when ...

... Santana slammed the door shut in the bottom of the ninth. One day after the club optioned two-time All-Star closer David Bednar to Triple-A Indianapolis, Santana, who was a waiver claim last summer, shined in his audition to take over Bednar’s old role, getting two quick outs before retiring pinch hitter Christopher Morel to secure the win.

On the mound

Once again, Holderman managed to make the game interesting in the late going. Called upon to replace Skenes in the bottom of the eighth, Holderman began his outing by issuing a walk to Taylor Walls. Walls advanced to second on a right-side ground ball in the following at-bat, then moved to third on a wild pitch.

DeLuca brought Walls home with a single to left field, making the score 3-2. He then put himself into scoring position moments later by stealing second base. Holderman finished his outing with a strikeout against Yandy Diaz. Shelton then called upon Ryan Borucki, who finished the job by striking out pinch hitter Curtis Mead with a knee-high sweeper.

At the plate

Cruz’s homer was, per usual, a rocket, traveling 391 feet at an exit velocity of 108.1 mph. The long ball marked his second of the season and the first hit to the opposite field. Cruz finished the contest 2 for 4 at the plate, with the home run, a pair of RBIs and a stolen base. The Pirates as a unit, meanwhile, outhit the opposition for the first time this season, tallying eight hits to Tampa Bay’s four.

Most valuable player

Paul Skenes. For the first time in his big league career, Skenes went the first two innings of a start without a strikeout. But perhaps that was by design. Skenes was brilliantly efficient in the early going, going his entire outing without a 20-plus-pitch inning. He threw 102 pitches in total, 72 for strikes. His four-seam fastball led the charge, accounting for four of his six strikeouts. His final strikeout, which was pitch No. 102, was a fastball that registered 98 mph.

Up next

Following Thursday’s off day, the Pirates will be back in action Friday, as they host the Yankees in their home opener at PNC Park. The contest, which is scheduled to begin at 4:12 p.m., will be the first of three games. Mitch Keller will pitch for the Pirates, while the Yankees starter has yet to be announced. The game will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen on 93.7 The Fan.