07/19/26 04:07:00
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07/19 16:06 CDT Skenes strikes out 8 in 7 innings as Pirates roll to 7-1 win
over Guardians
Skenes strikes out 8 in 7 innings as Pirates roll to 7-1 win over Guardians
By JOE REEDY
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Paul Skenes allowed one run and struck out eight in seven
innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-1 on
Sunday.
Skenes (9-8) went at least seven innings for the first time since May 12. The
All-Star right-hander gave up seven hits.
After allowing eight runs (seven earned) in four innings in a 10-6 loss at
Philadelphia on July 1, Skenes is 3-0 with a 2.46 ERA.
Billy Cook had a career-high three hits and drove in two runs, Esmerlyn Valdez
continued his torrid July with a two-run homer in the ninth and Nick Gonzales
had two doubles as the Pirates won their fifth straight interleague series.
They have gone 11-4 in that span.
Steven Kwan had two hits for Cleveland, which had won its past three series
against Pittsburgh.
Cook gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead in the second with a base hit to right off
Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo (8-5) to drive in Gonzales.
The Pittsburgh center fielder led off the fifth with a triple off the wall in
the right-field corner before scoring when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges had
a throwing error on a pickoff attempt at third.
Cook extended the Pirates' lead to 4-1 in the sixth with an RBI single up the
middle to score Jacob Gonzalez.
Valdez's drive down the left-field line off Will Dion in the ninth made him the
sixth Pirates rookie with at least 20 RBIs in a calendar month.
Up next
Pirates: Head to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees. All-Star
RHP Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.49 ERA) gets the start on Monday.
Guardians: RHP Tanner Bibee (3-9, 3.90 ERA) goes on Monday when Cleveland opens
a four-game set against Minnesota.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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