Rookie Paul Skenes shone once again for the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching six solid innings in a 4-1 victory over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Monday to kick off a three-game series.
Oneil Cruz contributed with two RBIs and Bryan Reynolds added two doubles and an RBI for the Pirates. Reynolds extended his hitting streak to 15 games, currently the longest active streak in the majors.
Skenes (4-0) allowed one run on six hits, walked one, and struck out seven. Aroldis Chapman and Colin Holderman each pitched a scoreless inning, and David Bednar closed the game in the ninth for his 15th save by retiring the Reds in order.
Elly De La Cruz had three hits and stole his league-leading 37th base for Cincinnati, which came into the game tied with Pittsburgh for third place in the National League Central. The Reds have now lost three straight and five of their last seven games.
Cincinnati briefly led 1-0 in the first inning when Jeimer Candelario singled with two outs, stole second, and scored on Spencer Steer’s double.
Pittsburgh answered with three runs in the bottom of the first against Carson Spiers (0-1). Andrew McCutchen walked to lead off, reached third on Reynolds’ ground-rule double, and both scored on Cruz’s single.
Cruz moved to third on Rowdy Tellez’s double and scored on Ke’Bryan Hayes’ groundout.
The Pirates added another run in the second inning with two outs on consecutive doubles by McCutchen and Reynolds.
Spiers, in his first start of the season, allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings, with one walk and five strikeouts.
Cincinnati threatened in the sixth with two runners on and two outs, but Tyler Stephenson grounded out to end the inning.
Skenes, the top pick in the 2023 draft, has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all seven of his starts for Pittsburgh, which has won three of its last four games.
Reds center fielder TJ Friedl left the game with a suspected leg injury after making a diving catch on Nick Gonzales’ liner in the fifth inning.