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Paul Skenes rebounds impressively, securing his first win of 2026 in the Pirates' 8-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The reigning NL Cy Young winner delivers a stellar performance, allowing just one run across five innings and striking out five batters. Skenes walks TJ Friedl to start the game but quickly finds his rhythm, retiring eight straight, including three strikeouts.
After Friedl’s second walk, Elly De La Cruz records the Reds' first hit, followed by Nathaniel Lowe’s double, which ends Skenes' remarkable 31-inning scoreless streak against Cincinnati. This streak ranks as the fourth-longest by a Pirates pitcher against a single opponent since 1961.
Skenes exits the game after 77 pitches, with 51 strikes thrown. He improves to 5-0 with a stunning 0.53 ERA in six career starts against the Reds, boasting 45 strikeouts and only four walks while limiting Cincinnati to a .197 batting average.
The Pirates support Skenes with an early offensive surge, scoring three runs in the first inning, highlighted by Oneil Cruz’s homer. Manager Don Kelly aims to manage Skenes' workload following a tough outing in the previous game. Skenes now holds a 2.10 ERA through his first 57 starts, the lowest for a Pittsburgh pitcher since Babe Adams.
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