In a game that showcased everything that makes baseball beautiful, Paul Skenes delivered a masterclass performance on the mound Wednesday night, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a nail-biting 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The reigning National League Cy Young winner was nothing short of dominant, spinning eight innings of two-hit ball that had the Chase Field crowd buzzing. The 23-year-old right-hander was perfect through the first 14 batters, mowing down Diamondbacks hitters with surgical precision before Lourdes Gurriel Jr. finally broke through with a soft dribbler down the third-base line in the fifth inning. Skenes, showing his competitive fire, attempted to make the play but his throw sailed wide of first base.
Nolan Arenado followed with a line-drive single to left, but that would be the last baserunner Skenes would allow. The young phenom slammed the door from there, striking out seven batters overall—including the final three he faced in the eighth inning before handing the ball to the bullpen. Gregory Soto worked around a one-out walk in the ninth to secure his second save of the season.
The game's only run came off the bat of Brandon Lowe, who crushed a towering 435-foot solo homer to center field in the first inning—a no-doubter that bounced off the batter's eye and sent a jolt through the Pirates' dugout. It was all the support Skenes would need.
Bryan Reynolds reached a career milestone in the process, collecting his 1,000th career hit on a single in the third inning. He finished the night with two hits and also swiped a base, providing a spark at the top of the order.
On the other side, Diamondbacks right-hander Michael Soroka (4-2) battled through a rocky first inning that included Lowe's homer and several hard-hit balls. He settled in nicely after that, lasting 6 1/3 innings while allowing seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts—a strong outing that deserved a better fate.
Skenes (5-2) has yet to throw a nine-inning complete game in his major league career, but he came close. He tossed 8 1/3 innings once back in 2024 and threw an eight-inning complete game last season in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to the Phillies. Wednesday night, he got the win he deserved.
The series finale on Thursday promises more fireworks, with the Diamondbacks sending right-hander Zac Gallen (1-2, 4.45 ERA) to the mound against Pirates righty Mitch Keller (3-1, 2.85 ERA).