The Pittsburgh Pirates currently hold a 52-48 record and sit in third place in the National League Central standings. Over the last 24 hours, the club secured a 7-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. This win helped them clinch their fifth consecutive interleague series win.
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MLB Game Recap
Paul Skenes stifled the Guardians’ offense for seven innings, allowing only one run while striking out eight batters. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense gave consistent support. It started with an early RBI single by Billy Cook. It concluded with a 371-foot, two-run home run from Esmerlyn Valdez in the ninth inning. Key insurance runs came in the sixth inning. Cook and Jake Mangum delivered RBI hits to extend a lead. The bullpen eventually locked down the lead with two scoreless frames.
Standout Performer
Paul Skenes: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K (100 pitches). Skenes earned his ninth win of the season. He completed seven innings for the first time since May 12. This provided the Pirates with the elite stability needed to take the rubber match in Cleveland.
Key News & Notes
- The Pirates optioned RHP Khristian Curtis back to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday following his successful big-league debut.
- General Manager Ben Cherington announced that C Endy Rodriguez (glute strain) and 1B Spencer Horwitz (hamstring strain) are progressing well. They are expected to begin rehab assignments during the week of July 27.
- Shortstop Oneil Cruz remains on the 60-day injured list with hand metacarpal fractures. He is eligible to return as early as August 8 if his current rehab continues without setbacks.
- Wilber Dotel was activated from the 15-day injured list on Saturday. He served as the 27th man for the previous doubleheader.
Farm Report
- Triple-A (Indianapolis Indians): Enmanuel Valdez had a successful game, going 1-for-3. He hit a grand slam and four RBIs in a 13-6 victory over the Columbus Clippers. Valdez’s fifth-inning blast served as the centerpiece of an eight-run frame that secured the win.
- Double-A (Altoona Curve): Derek Berg finished 1-for-5. He hit his eighth home run of the season. This occurred during a 10-6 loss to the Reading Fightin Phils. Berg’s two-run shot in the sixth inning briefly narrowed the deficit before the bullpen surrendered late runs.
- High-A (Greensboro Grasshoppers): Sammy Stafura launched his 15th home run of the year. He finished 1-for-5 in a 7-3 defeat against the Hub City Spartanburgers. Stafura’s solo homer in the ninth inning was one of only eight hits Greensboro managed in the loss.
- Single-A (Bradenton Marauders): Richard Ramirez hit a home run for the ninth time this season. He had a 2-for-3 day. However, the Marauders fell 7-2 to the Tampa Tarpons. Ramirez was the only Bradenton batter to record multiple hits in the contest.
- FCL Pirates: No game scheduled
Deep Dive: Interleague Dominance and Skenes’ July Surge
The Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1 victory on Sunday capped off an impressive stretch of interleague play. The team has won five straight series. They have posted an 11-4 record in those matchups. Central to this success has been the resurgence of All-Star Paul Skenes. Skenes had a difficult outing on July 1 against Philadelphia, where he surrendered eight runs. Since then, he has posted a 3-0 record with a 2.46 ERA in his subsequent starts. His seven-inning performance in Cleveland was particularly significant. It marked the first time he reached that distance in over two months. This performance re-established him as one of the National League’s premier starters.
The offense has also seen a significant injection of rookie production during this winning run. Esmerlyn Valdez’s home run on Sunday marked a significant achievement. He became only the sixth rookie in Pirates franchise history. Valdez is one of a select group to record at least 20 RBIs in a single calendar month. Valdez has been “torrid” in July, now slashing .305/.373/.733 with 12 home runs in just 31 games this season. This combination of high-end starting pitching and surprising rookie power has moved the Pirates four games above the .500 mark as they prepare for a high-profile interleague series in New York. Spencer Horwitz and Endy Rodriguez are nearing rehab assignments. The Pirates’ lineup depth looks poised for a further boost in late July.
Looking Ahead
The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to the Bronx tonight to open a three-game series against the New York Yankees. All-Star Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.49 ERA) will take the mound for Pittsburgh against New York’s Ryan Weathers.
The Pirates are playing their best baseball of the season just as the trade deadline approaches. What do you think?
