Despite Paul Skenes’ performance, Pittsburgh Pirates lose to Cardinals

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates got a great performance from rookie starter Paul Skenes, but couldn’t support him and lost 2-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

The Pirates (51-50) have lost two of their last three games after winning six in a row, but they have still won seven of their last nine games and nine of their last 12 games.

The Pirates were able to load the bases in the second inning when first baseman Rowdy Tellez walked and center fielder Jack Suwinski singled, while catcher Yasmani Grandal reached first base after hitting the ball just past Cardinals starting pitcher Lance Lynn.

Designated hitter Andrew McCutchen missed the pitch and popped up to center field.

Skenes, who had thrown four scoreless innings to start the game, gave up a home run to Nolan Arenado, who hit a first-pitch curveball over the left-field wall to open the scoring.

Suwinski led off the fifth inning with a single to left field, but the Pirates quickly got two outs when Grandal and McCutchen retired.

Left fielder Bryan Reynolds would run to get two runners on base and Lynn would throw a wild pitch over catcher Wilson Contreras, allowing the runners to advance one base. Shortstop Oneil Cruz worked a full count and then ran to load the bases.

Second baseman Nick Gonzales hit a weak ball that appeared to work in his favor, but Contreras threw him out at first base to end the inning.

Lynn finished his day with 86 pitches in 5.0 innings, allowing just four hits and three walks, while striking out two and giving up no runs.

Cardinals left-handed reliever John King pitched a perfect sixth inning but gave up a single to Pirates pinch hitter Connor Joe, leading to a change in the bullpen.

Right-handed pitcher Adam Kittredge came on for the Cardinals and forced Grandal into a double play, striking out McCutchen to end the seventh inning unscathed.

Cruz hit a slider wide of the plate off Cardinals left-handed reliever JoJo Romero, which landed between shortstop Masyn Winn and centerfielder Michael Siani. He would extend the play into a double, as he never stopped running and Siani was too late to react.

Gonzales then came up with the decisive blow by catching the first pitch and driving it into center field, scoring Cruz from second base and tying the score at 1-1 in the eighth inning.

Ke’Bryan Hayes came in as a pinch-hitter in place of Tellez, but Cardinals right-handed reliever Ryan Fernandez forced him into a double play to end the inning.

Skenes came back for the ninth inning and nearly struck Siani out, but Grandal let the foul fall back on him. Siani then hit a ball down the left field line and Reynolds attempted to throw him out at second base, the Cardinals successfully challenging him to safety before Gonzales applied the tag, giving him the double.

Winn then grounded out, but moved Siani to third. Skenes then allowed a single to designated hitter Alec Burleson, scoring Siani and giving the Cardinals the lead.

Skenes ultimately threw 8.0 innings, striking out eight batters, allowing four hits and two earned runs in 104 pitches, the longest outing of his young career.

Pirates right-handed reliever Carmen Mlodzinski replaced Skenes and kept the game in check, striking out Contreras and forcing left fielder Brendan Donovan to ground out to end the inning.

Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley struck outfielder Joshua Palacios, infielder Jared Triolo and Joe in the ninth inning to eliminate the Pirates, earning his 33rd save, the most in MLB.

The Pirates will try to win the series against the Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon, with first pitch at 12:35 p.m.

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