The Pittsburgh Pirates split a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers after a very long day. The Bucs won the night-cap of the day 8-4 in 10-innings after a rain delay in the ninth inning. They put up four runs in the 10th inning and had 12 hits in the game. Second baseman Nick Gonzales led the Bucs with three hits, including a home run. Andrew McCutchen continued a hot streak with two hits and his eighth home run of the year. He had four hits over the two games Thursday.
The first game of the day was also delayed by rain for 40 minutes.
Paul Skenes did not figure into the decision of the second game. He went six innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He walked five, but struck out nine. David Bednar earned the victory by completing the final 1-2/3rd innings.
Detroit won the opening game 9-2. Pirates starting pitcher Andrew Heaney allowed seven earned runs on eight hits over his four innings of work.
The Pirates have returned home to host the Texas Rangers for a three-game series at PNC Park. Tonight’s game begins at 6:40pm. Pre-game on WISR begins at 6:15pm.
(Saturday’s game begins at 4:05pm. Pre-game on WISR begins at 3:40pm. Sunday’s game has a 1:35pm start time. Pre-game begins on WISR at 12:35pm with the Ben Cherington Show. )
Paul Skenes has now joined elite company in a baseball statistic that measures batting success against him. Based on a minimum of 95 innings pitched in a season, Skenes is fifth overall over the last 30 seasons in lowest batters on-base percentage plus slugging – or OPS. Batters have a .506 OPS percentage against Skenes this season. Clayton Kershaw in 2016 led that category with the best percentage all-time of .472, followed by Pedro Martinez in 2000, Mariano Rivera in 1996, and Justin Verlander in 2022.
Pirates reliever Dennis Santana was involved in an altercation with a fan during the second game of the doubleheader in Detroit. Santana claimed the fan “crossed the line”, and was seen jumping up in the bullpen and taking a swing after pointing the fan out to security.
Three fans were also removed from the ballpark for jeering at Tommy Pham in the top of the 10th inning while he was in the on-deck circle.
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