Paul Skenes was overdue for a few good breaks against the Cardinals

Paul Skenes had to know this was coming, right?

The notoriously piddly Pittsburgh Pirates’ bats have been the biggest reason why last year’s National League Rookie of the Year is only 4-7 this season. In four of Skenes’ five starts last month, the Pirates plated two runs or fewer.

But heading into his appearance Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park, the Pirates’ offense was on a rare heater. During the course of their four-game win streak in advance of Tuesday’s game, the Pirates had racked up 37 runs.

So, of course, as Skenes took the mound, they got quiet again.

Yup. Whatever pixie dust had been sprinkled on the Pirates’ bat rack ran out. But they were still able to scratch out one run in the eighth inning on a Henry Davis sacrifice fly to win the game 1-0.

Skenes didn’t get the victory himself. He was pulled with the game scoreless after five innings and just 88 pitches.

“Gutsy. Grinding,” manager Don Kelly said of Skenes’ performance. “He got the pitch count up in five innings against a good offensive club. … You find a way to put a zero up. He gave us a chance to win.”

The 23-year-old right-hander managed to throw five shutout innings with five strikeouts along the way. His ERA dropped to 2.03, but it wasn’t easy. The LSU product allowed five hits, a walk and hit a batter. Yet Skenes felt good about the ball as it was leaving his hand and didn’t have any complaints about his array of pitches.

“They did a good job,” Skenes said of the Cardinals’ hitters. “I was happy with pretty much everything today.”

That said, Skenes needed his defense — and a little luck — to leave with a clean effort.

• In the first inning, Skenes stranded Masyn Winn at third base as Willson Contreras lined out to right field.

• With two on and one out, Alec Burleson lined into a double play to end the third when Brendan Donovan strayed too far off of first base.

• With two on and nobody out in the fourth, Skenes got out of the jam in part because Jose Fermin popped up a bunt, and Tommy Pham threw out a runner at home two batters later.

Tommy Pham CANNON! ???? pic.twitter.com/KnAs74WZgl

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 1, 2025

“He threw a strike,” Davis said of Pham. “You’ve got Skenes on the mound. If you keep them off the board, you’ve got a pretty good chance. Just play good defense behind him.”

So, some good fortune evened out for Skenes, even if he got unlucky in terms of the run support. Despite some anxious moments in the ninth from David Bednar (which included another Cardinal gunned down at the plate), the bullpen held up too, finishing the game with four scoreless innings. The relievers have allowed just one earned run during the team’s five-game winning streak.

It’s about time the Pirates got a few breaks against the Cardinals in a game when Skenes pitched against them. He entered the game with an 0-4 record against the National League Central rival over five starts despite a respectable 2.76 ERA in those outings.

“We got in positions to make the plays, and we executed them behind me. It was just one of those games that we had to grind through a little bit,” Skenes said.

After 50 losses in their first 82 games, the concept of back-to-back sweeps may have seemed inconceivable as recently as a week ago. But the Pirates are on the verge of that now if they can beat St. Louis again Wednesday afternoon.

“At this point, it’s everything clicking at once. Offensively, defensively, starting pitching and bullpen,” Skenes said. “It’s been a really good stretch of games. We just have to keep it going.”

Enjoy it while you can, Paul. Maybe next time you’ll be able to enjoy your first personal victory since the end of May.