Skenes' 8 Scoreless Innings Lead Pirates Past Rockies

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivered a dominant performance, scattering two hits over eight scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts to lead his team to a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at PNC Park.

The 23-year-old reigning National League Cy Young Award winner retired the first 19 batters he faced before Colorado's Mickey Moniak broke up the no-hitter with a one-out single to left-center in the seventh. Skenes then retired Hunter Goodman and TJ Rumfield to escape the inning unscathed. He returned for the eighth, allowing a one-out double to Troy Johnston before inducing a flyout and a groundout. Fans gave Skenes a standing ovation as he left the mound after striking out Ezequiel Tovar to end the frame, and he tipped his cap in response. Skenes threw 98 pitches, 68 for strikes, lowering his season ERA to 1.98.

Skenes set the tone early by striking out the first six Rockies batters, matching a career highlight. The streak ended in the third inning when Willi Castro laid down a bunt on the first pitch, which Skenes fielded and threw to first for the out. The PNC Park crowd booed Castro loudly, sparking debate among fans about baseball's unwritten...