PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It’s not often you are able to win a three-game series scoring three runs, but the Bucs second 1-0 win over the Angels of the weekend puts the record at 71-73. Henry Davis’ two-out homer to left was the only run of the game.
Skenes 10-spot
Paul Skenes was pulled after getting a ground out of the first batter in the sixth inning, giving up four hits, a walk and struck out two. His pitch count was 87 (61 strikes). The 24-year-old allowed a runner in every inning, but only one got past third base and he was thrown out at home.
The win is Skenes 10th of the season and now reaches double-figures for each of his three MLB seasons. That also lowered his season ERA to 3.83, moving him to 14th in the National League and his WHIP is 1.15, which is eighth in the NL.
Cruz D
With two outs in the fifth inning and a runner at first, Angels Mike Trout hit a liner into the left-center gap, Oneil Cruz was able to cut it off before it reached the wall and as he threw into cutoff man Brandon Lowe, Angels third base coach Keith Johnson waived home Zach Neto. Lowe’s throw to Davis at home got Neto by a step-and-a-half to keep the Pirates 1-0 lead.
With Carmen Mlodzinski in, Christian Moore hit a sinking liner just to the right of center field, Cruz raced in to make a head-first, diving catch for the first out of the inning.
Notes
- Gregory Soto, Carmen Mlodzinski, Camilo Doval, Mason Montgomery (10th save) combined for 3.2 innings of scoreless relief
- 16 of the Pirates 24 outs were by grounders
- Angeles left one base runner in 8 of the 9 innings
- Lowe had a pair of singles
O’Hearn this week?
Maybe, Pirates GM Ben Cherington said on the Pirates Insider Show with Jason Mackey on 93.7 The Fan that Ryan O’Hearn could likely start a rehab assignment this week at AAA with the potential to play at some point during the two series in Chicago. The Bucs GM didn’t sound certain, but said they will have to see how he recovers from his hamstring injury.
Minor League Notes
- 2025 3rd round pick, righty-hitting catcher Easton Carmichael tripled and drove in his 88th run of the season playing for AA, Altoona
- Bradenton won its final game of the season, 4-1 over Lakeland to finish 55-72. 2026 2nd round pick, 2B Chris Rembert went 2-4, finishing with a .284 batting average in 67 at bats with 9 stolen bases in his first pro season
Fedko Zone
Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan, Minnesota was stuck where they needed a roster spot and couldn’t hide 26-year-old, right-hand hitting outfielder Kyler Fedko on an injury list. They decided to release him off the 40-man roster making him a free agent last week. Fedko talked to a few teams after putting up these stats in AAA in 75 games-17 doubles, 17 home runs, .274 average, .362 on-base and.907 OPS. Last year in the minors in 130 games Fedko hit 25 doubles, 28 home runs, 82 RBI, .367 OBP and .855 OPS. He decided to sign with the Pirates, not because his dad was a sports anchor at Channel 11 or that he is from Hampton.
"He's got skills,” Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan. “The local connection is cool, but we like the skills, like the player."
Cherington said Fedko likely wouldn’t be available until maybe the latter part of 2027 after tearing three major tendons in his knee.
Stand Up To Cancer
Roughly 30 seconds of silence after the fifth inning as Pirates fans and players displayed Stand Up to Cancer signs with written tributes to those affected by cancer. It’s an initiative to help increase innovative cancer research that gets new therapies to patients quicker. For more information or to donate:
https://www.mlb.com/mlb-together/stand-up-to-cancer
Up next
Pirates have a two series road trip in Chicago, starting Tuesday with Bubba Chandler (6-9, 4.30 ERA) against White Sox RHP Sean Burke (8-6, 3.20 ERA) with Dan Zangrilli starting the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 6:45p and first pitch at 7:40 on 93.7 The Fan.
Pirates pitching outstanding Sunday to take another series
Pirates pitching outstanding Sunday to take another series
