Paul Skenes didn’t have it Tuesday, but the Pirates’ bats were more than willing to rescue him.
After a sharp outing last week in a 1-0 win over the San Diego Padres, the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner was expected to roll again with a week of rest. Instead, the San Francisco Giants knocked him around in the second inning, highlighted by Rafael Devers’ three-run homer, and Skenes suddenly found himself dealing with more questions about his effectiveness.
This is the Pirates’ third 9+ run inning this season, tied for the most in a season in franchise history, with:
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 2, 2026
1944
1894
1893
h/t @EliasSports https://t.co/3JprJrxZrb
Pittsburgh answered with the kind of outburst that can erase a rough start in a hurry. Trailing 5-2 after Skenes’ struggles, the Pirates erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the third and pulled their ace off the hook. Oneil Cruz led the way with two singles and three RBIs, while the rest of the lineup piled on Logan Webb, who unraveled in the third for the second time in his last three starts.
What made the inning even more impressive was how the Pirates did it. There were no home runs and no doubles - just singles, a couple of walks and a hit by pitch, all of it stacked into one punishing rally.
It was another reminder that even with Pittsburgh out of the playoff picture, the offense can still flash serious firepower. The nine-run inning was the Pirates’ third of the 2026 season with at least nine runs, matching a franchise record shared by the 1893, 1894 and 1944 clubs, according to Sarah Langs.
The broader numbers back up the eye test. Pittsburgh is 67-71, ranks sixth in MLB with a .736 OPS, and sits fourth in runs scored, batting average and on-base percentage. The problem has been the rotation, which has not matched the lineup’s production.
Skenes was part of that problem on Tuesday. He gave up five runs on eight hits and walked three in just 4 2/3 innings, leaving his season ERA at 3.97.
And he wasn’t the only one struggling on the mound. The Pirates later squandered a five-run lead and were tied 12-12 with the Giants in the ninth.
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