The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-0 last night to open a four-game series at PNC Park. Paul Skenes tossed six shutout innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight. Skenes did allow seven hits for the first time in his career, snapping a record streak of six or fewer hits allowed at 46 consecutive starts.
The shutout was the Pirates 14th of the season, second-best in baseball. It was their 50th victory of the season. (To go with 66 losses).
The Pirates had 10 hits in the game, but still left 11 men on base. Every Pirate in the lineup reached base. Only Andrew McCutchen and Jack Suwinski did not have hits. McCutchen was walked four times and scored a run. Suwinski was hitless in four at-bats, but was also walked once.
Bryan Reynolds hit his 11th home run of the season in the first inning. Catcher Henry Davis hit his first home run in nearly two months in the seventh inning. It was his fifth of the season.
Skenes lowered his MLB-leading ERA to 1.94. He also extended his scoreless streak at PNC Park to 27-2/3rd innings. He has not allowed a run at home since June 8th against Philadelphia, and that run was unearned.
Skenes has been particularly good against the Reds. He has a career 4-0 record with a 0.39 ERA and 33 strikeouts against the division-rival.
The Bucs and Reds play again tonight at 6:40pm. Pre-game on WISR begins at 6:15pm. Mitch Keller will start for the Pirates.
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