The Pittsburgh Pirates' rough week reached a new low on Thursday afternoon at PNC Park, as even their ace couldn't stop the bleeding. Paul Skenes took the mound hoping to play the stopper role, but the St. Louis Cardinals had other plans, completing a four-game sweep with a decisive 10-5 victory.

The Cardinals came out swinging from the very first pitch. JJ Wetherholt set the tone with a leadoff home run off Skenes (4-2), announcing that this would be no easy outing for the Pirates' star. The damage didn't stop there—Jordan Walker followed later in the inning with a two-run blast to left field, giving St. Louis a commanding 3-0 lead before the Pirates even had a chance to bat.

The Cardinals kept the pressure on in the third inning. With two outs, Nolan Gorman singled home Alec Burelson from second base, extending the lead to 4-0. The play was aided by a costly error from Konnor Griffin, whose throw from short to first went awry—a moment that summed up the Pirates' struggles throughout the series.

For the Pirates, this sweep stings particularly hard. Coming off a promising stretch, they now find themselves searching for answers against a division rival that simply had their number. The loss drops their record and leaves fans wondering when the tide will turn.

As the Pirates look to regroup, one thing is clear: even the most electric arms need support, and right now, every part of the game needs to tighten up for Pittsburgh to get back on track.