MLB Roundup: Pirates’ Paul Skenes Dominates Tigers on His 22nd Birthday

Paul Skenes celebrated his 22nd birthday in style by striking out nine batters over six innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers 10-2 in the second game of a doubleheader on Wednesday. Skenes (2-0), regarded as the top pitching prospect in baseball, allowed two runs on three hits in his fourth major league start. He recorded two strikeouts in each of the first two innings and struck out the side in the fourth, effectively mixing his splitter with his fastball. Skenes now boasts a 2.45 ERA with 30 strikeouts and five walks in 22 innings.

Andrew McCutchen marked his 1,600th hit with the Pirates by blasting a three-run homer in the third inning. McCutchen, who has played for five different teams over his 16-year MLB career, also doubled, singled, and drove in four runs. Nick Gonzales added three hits, including a solo homer, and contributed two RBIs.

For the Tigers, Matt Vierling hit his fourth home run in three games. Detroit starter Keider Montero, making his MLB debut, surrendered four runs on five hits and struck out five over 4 1/3 innings.

Yankees 2, Angels 1

Luis Gil delivered a dominant performance, allowing just two hits over eight innings as the Yankees edged out the Angels in Anaheim, California. Alex Verdugo homered for the Yankees, and Gil (7-1) continued his winning streak, securing his sixth consecutive victory.

Gil gave up a single to Luis Rengifo in the third inning and a solo homer to Logan O’Hoppe in the seventh, marking O’Hoppe’s sixth home run of the season. Gil struck out nine and walked two, making 95 pitches and at one point retiring 11 straight Angels. In the ninth, Yankees closer Clay Holmes navigated a challenging situation with runners on first and second and no outs, ultimately earning his 16th save.

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Mariners 2, Astros 1 (10 innings)

J.P. Crawford’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning provided the decisive run as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Houston Astros. Dominic Canzone homered for the Mariners, who will aim to sweep the four-game series against their American League West rivals on Thursday.

Astros’ ace Justin Verlander allowed one run on three hits over seven innings, walked one, and matched his season-high with nine strikeouts.

Brewers 10, Cubs 6

Christian Yelich, Blake Perkins, and Willy Adames each hit a two-run homer as the Milwaukee Brewers overcame previously undefeated Shota Imanaga to defeat the visiting Chicago Cubs. Yelich’s first-inning homer set the tone, and the Brewers scored five runs in the third off Imanaga, who entered the game with a 0.84 ERA. Imanaga (5-1) was charged with seven runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings, striking out one and walking one, as his ERA rose to 1.86.

Jared Koenig (5-1) earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief.

Dodgers 10, Mets 3

Will Smith hit two homers, including the go-ahead solo shot in the eighth inning, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the slumping New York Mets to complete a three-game sweep. The Dodgers outscored the Mets 18-5 during the series, which was played over a 27-hour span due to a rainout on Monday. Smith finished 3-for-5, while Miguel Rojas matched a career-high with four hits and added an RBI single in the eighth.

First baseman Pete Alonso, who leads the Mets with 12 homers, left the game after being hit on the right hand by a pitch in the first inning. Initial examinations did not reveal a broken bone, and CT scan results are expected on Thursday.