Paul Skenes Delivers Strong Response, but Pirates Falter in Loss to Cubs

The Pittsburgh Pirates were unable to capitalize on a strong outing from ace Paul Skenes, falling 7-2 to the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park in a game that exposed both defensive lapses and late-inning struggles. The defeat moved Pittsburgh to 6-6 in games started by the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner.

Skenes delivered one of his more encouraging performances of the season after a pair of difficult outings in which he allowed nine combined runs. Against Chicago, he responded with improved command and swing-and-miss stuff, striking out 10 batters over 5 1/3 innings.

Despite the rebound, the Pirates’ offense and defense were unable to fully support their starter. Chicago took advantage of key opportunities in the middle innings and gradually pulled away as Pittsburgh’s mistakes mounted.

The result left Skenes with another statistically solid outing but little to show for it in the standings, underscoring the team’s ongoing inconsistency behind its top starter.

1. Early Dominance and Pitching Command

Skenes opened the game in near-perfect form, retiring the first eight batters he faced while quickly establishing control over the Cubs’ lineup. His fastball velocity remained high, touching 99.4 mph, while his breaking pitches generated consistent swings and misses. The right-hander was particularly dominant early, striking out seven of Chicago’s first eight hitters at one point. Over the first three innings, he matched a career benchmark with seven strikeouts, showcasing both velocity and sharp secondary movement. His sweeper proved especially effective, producing several empty swings and helping him navigate early counts with efficiency. For much of the early stretch, Chicago’s hitters had few answers for his mix of power and movement. That early dominance set the tone for what appeared to be a strong bounce-back performance following recent struggles on the mound.

2. Momentum Shift and Defensive Breakdowns

The game began to tilt in the fourth inning when Chicago capitalized on a series of small but important offensive moments. Michael Busch worked a walk, Ian Happ reached on an infield single, and Seiya Suzuki followed with a bloop RBI single to open the scoring. Pittsburgh’s defensive issues became more pronounced in the sixth inning. Consecutive throwing errors by Tyler Callihan and Jared Triolo led to additional unearned runs, extending Chicago’s lead to 3-0 and putting further pressure on Skenes. Those mistakes proved costly, turning what had been a competitive pitching duel into a game increasingly controlled by the Cubs. The defensive miscues highlighted ongoing inconsistencies in Pittsburgh’s infield execution. Skenes ultimately exited after the Triolo error, finishing his outing with three walks and 70 pitches through four innings, later noting that a few uncompetitive pitches contributed to the elevated pitch count.

3. Offensive Response and Late Collapse

The Pirates briefly responded in the sixth inning when Bryan Reynolds hit a solo home run to cut into the deficit. Tyler Callihan also added an RBI double, pulling Pittsburgh within a run at 3-2 and briefly shifting momentum. However, the bullpen was unable to sustain that momentum shift. Chicago quickly regained control, preventing Pittsburgh from building on its brief offensive surge and reasserting command of the game. Ian Happ played a central role in the Cubs’ offensive output, finishing with three hits and delivering a decisive two-run home run in the eighth inning. It was his second impactful swing in as many nights against Pittsburgh. Cubs starter Colin Rea earned the win after allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings, while the Pirates also suffered an additional setback when Nick Gonzales exited the game in the third inning due to left knee discomfort.