PAUL Skenes pitched six shutout innings for the second consecutive start to lead the host Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon (Monday in Manila).
Skenes (6-8) gave up three hits, walked one and struck out nine on 99 pitches to lead the Pirates to the series victory and second consecutive shutout win over the Diamondbacks. Skenes has not allowed a run in 13 consecutive innings, and he lowered his ERA to 1.83—the lowest in the majors. After Sunday’s start, Skenes lowered his career ERA to 1.89 over his first 266 innings.
Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz finished with two hits, including a double, and two RBIs; Tommy Pham had two hits and an RBI and Bryan Reynolds had an RBI double.
Arizona starter Zac Gallen (7-12) allowed all four Pirates runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings. Jake McCarthy had a triple and a double to lead the Diamondbacks, who lost for the fifth time in six games.
In other games, it was the Athletics 7, Astros 1; Orioles 5, Rockies 1; Pirates 6, Diamondbacks 0; Red Sox 4, Dodgers 3; Yankees 4, Phillies 3; Cubs 5, White Sox 4; Reds 2, Rays 1; Tigers 10, Blue Jays 4; Royals 4, Guardians 1; Brewers 3, Marlins 2; Nationals 7, Twins 2; Padres 9, Cardinals 2; Rangers 8, Braves 1; Angels 4, Mariners 1; and Mets 5, Giants 3.
Athletics 7, Astros 1
J.T. Ginn twirled six shutout innings, SheaLangeliers homered for a third consecutive game, and the Athletics completed a stunning four-game sweep of host Houston.
Ginn (2-2) matched his career high for innings pitched while posting his first scoreless start in his sixth start of the season. He allowed three hits, did not walk a batter and posted four strikeouts. He threw 77 pitches.
Ginn took the mound in the bottom of the first with a 2-0 lead after Miguel Andujar and Langeliers homered off Astros rookie left-hander Colton Gordon (4-3) in the top half of the inning. A GioUrshela sacrifice fly and Colby Thomas RBI double made it 4-0 in the fourth and put Houston in an insurmountable hole.
Orioles 5, Rockies 1
Tyler O’Neill homered for the third consecutive game and Baltimore beat visiting Colorado to clinch the three-game series.
O’Neill’s two-run homer in the third inning came after teammate Dylan Carlson’s two-run single in the second. Warming Bernabel, in his second game in the major leagues, homered for the Rockies. No player in the game had more than one hit.
Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano (8-5) worked six innings for the victory, giving up one run on four hits. He struck out eight and issued two walks. Austin Gomber (0-5) gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings, with Colorado losing a game for the seventh consecutive time that he started.
