PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For the third consecutive start Paul Skenes gave up one run, he didn’t get a win in any of those starts. Friday night it was a no-decision as Oneil Cruz homered (427 feet) with one-out in the ninth after William Contreras had given Milwaukee the lead with a home run in the top of the ninth. Bucs would score two in the 10th to win 6-5.
"Man, a lot to unpack in that one, huh?" Kelly said after the game. "That was a gutsy win. Where do you guys want to start? Did Skenes start that game?"
In the 10th, Brewers Isaac Collins hit a chopper left side that bounced over the drawn-in infield scoring Caleb Durbin who had stolen third base for a 5-4 lead. Bottom 10, Alexander Canario singled in Spencer Horwitz to make it 5-5.
It appeared the Pirates could have won the game in the 10 as Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled to right. Canario avoided the catcher on the throw home, but was ruled by home plate umpire Mark Wegner that he went out of the baseline and was ruled out.
Adam Frazier would score the winning run on a two-out, two-strike wild pitch.
Skenes struck out eight over six innings allowing a run on four singles and a pair of walks. Over those last three starts, 20 innings, 23 strikeouts, five walks and 13 hits. Skenes also reached 100 pitches for the sixth time in 12 starts, 101 pitches (63 strikes). The 23-year-old’s last win was April 25 at the Dodgers allowing no runs over 6.1 innings and striking out nine.
"It's tough not being in control of it but it's cool to watch," Skenes said. "It's nice to see us pull it out, which is something that we haven't done as much to this point in the year. Hopefully it's a good sign."
After getting a leadoff strikeout in the seventh inning, Pirates reliever Tanner Rainey gave up a walk and two straight singles that tied the game, Jackson Chourio singled off Dennis Santana for a 3-2 Milwaukee lead.
Bryan Reynolds second RBI of the game, a one-out single in the seventh, scored Andrew McCutchen (2-3, 2 walks), who had doubled, to tie it at 3. Oneil Cruz opened the Pirates scoring with a solo homer in the third, his ninth of the season.
"I feel like I'm in a good spot right now," Cruz said. "Not quite 100%, but really close to it, and I feel pretty good because I've been doing my work in the training room just to keep myself in a good spot. It's coming in well."
Legit missile
It was Cruz’s first home run since April 26. It flew out of PNC Park at 117.9 miles-an-hour and traveled 442 feet. It tied for the third hardest hit ball of the season according to Baseball Savant (Cruz, James Wood, Shohei Ohtani, Josh Naylor). Cruz hit one at 119.6 earlier this year and Vladimir Guerrero had contact at 120.4 mph.
"Geez, I mean two great swings," Kelly said. "I think I heard coming up the steps that was his first multi-home run game. Two long ones out there, and the second one was really, really big, to tie that up off a good pitcher like Uribe. Coming back to Canario's hit to tie it up there, and being able to string some together there with Isiah, it was great."
Notes
· 4th straight game with an RBI for Reynolds
· Adam Frazier had a 3-hit night, he’s had multiple hits in 2 of his last 3 games
· Pirates pitchers struck out 16
· Brewers left 12 on base (9 in last 4 innings), Pirates left 9 on base
· In his first start since being demoted to AAA, Carmen Mlodzinski went 6 shutout innings striking out 10
· Jack Suwinski hit his 5th HR for AAA Indy
· Nick Yorke had a 2-run double in AAA
· 2024 first-round pick Konnor Griffin hit his 8th HR at A Bradenton and now has 26 RBI. The 8 homers ties him for the lead in the Florida State League
· 21-year-old, 6’2” righty hitting outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez hit his South Atlantic League leading 13th homer and league-leading 35th RBI
Up Next
Game 3 of the series with a couple of righties who were each named the Bob Friend Pitcher of the Year (Pirates minor league pitcher of the year). Quinn Priester (1-2, 4.66 ERA) for Milwaukee against Mitch Keller (1-6, 3.88 ERA) with Dan Zangrilli hosting the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 3p on the Home of the Pirates, 93.7 The Fan.