Skenes, Cook shine as Pirates take series from Guardians
CLEVELAND – Paul Skenes allowed one run and struck out eight in seven innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-1 on Sunday.
The win gave the Pirates a series victory over the Guardians, after the two teams split a doubleheader on Saturday.
Skenes (9-8) went at least seven innings for the first time since May 12. The All-Star right-hander gave up seven hits.
After allowing eight runs (seven earned) in four innings in a 10-6 loss at Philadelphia on July 1, Skenes is 3-0 with a 2.46 ERA.
Billy Cook had a career-high three hits and drove in two runs, Esmerlyn Valdez continued his torrid July with a two-run homer in the ninth and Nick Gonzales had two doubles as the Pirates won their fifth straight interleague series. They have gone 11-4 in that span.
Steven Kwan had two hits for Cleveland, which had won its past three series against Pittsburgh.
Cook, who got married to his fiancé, Amelia, over the All-Star Break, gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead in the second with a base hit to right off Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo (8-5) to drive in Gonzales.
The Pittsburgh center fielder led off the fifth with a triple off the wall in the right-field corner before scoring when Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges had a throwing error on a pickoff attempt at third.
Cook extended the Pirates’ lead to 4-1 in the sixth with an RBI single up the middle to score Jacob Gonzalez. He also threw out Chase DeLauter attempting to score on a flyout to centerfield in the fourth.
It was one of several strong defensive plays from the Pirates.
Skenes picked off Khalil Watson at second base in the seventh. Left fielder Jake Mangum threw out Kwan trying to extend a single into a double in the sixth.
In the fifth, Gabriel Arias went to third on a high throw on a pick off attempt by Henry Davis, but dove past second base and failed to retouch the bag on his way to third. The Pirates appealed to second base and Arias was called out to end the inning.
Valdez’s drive down the left-field line off Will Dion in the ninth made him the sixth Pirates rookie with at least 20 RBIs in a calendar month.
Up next
Pirates: Head to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees. All-Star RHP Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.49 ERA) gets the start on Monday.
Guardians: RHP Tanner Bibee (3-9, 3.90 ERA) goes on Monday when Cleveland opens a four-game set against Minnesota.