Paul Skenes tosses another 8-inning gem as Pirates beat Rockies, 3-1

Matt Press, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 12, 2026

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — Another day, another Paul Skenes gem.

Less than a week after he held the Arizona Diamondbacks scoreless through eight innings, he did the same Tuesday night in a 3-1 win against the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park.

Skenes hurled eight innings of two-hit ball while allowing no walks and striking out 10. He struck out the side three times — including the first six batters he faced — and carried a no-hitter into the seventh. The Pirates ace was up to 98 pitches after eight innings, and fans chanted “We want Paul!” afterward, but manager Don Kelly opted to head to the bullpen for the final frame.

Skenes remains without a complete game in his young career.

The Pirates offense didn’t exactly light things up, but it certainly didn’t need to. Nick Gonzales opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, slapping a slider the other way for a two-out RBI single. Skenes evidently didn’t require much — or any — insurance, but Brandon Lowe knocked another two-out RBI single to put the Pirates up, 2-0, in the fifth.

The success with two outs continued into the seventh, when Bryan Reynolds scored Konnor Griffin on a bases-loaded infield single.

It was over when …

Lowe drove home Oneil Cruz in the fifth to put the Pirates ahead, 2-0.

On the mound

Skenes struck out the first six batters he faced — just shy of his career high of seven to start a game — and fans booed when Willi Castro bunted to lead off the third. Nonetheless, Skenes mowed down batter after batter and put forth another gem.

He threw 98 total pitches and struck out 10 — all in the first six innings — while lowering his ERA to 1.98 in the process.

Gregory Soto took over and allowed a run in the ninth off an RBI double from Hunter Goodman.

At the plate

Cruz was excellent, batting 3 for 4 with two doubles. He now has two three-hit games in the last four days and four multi-hit games this month. Spencer Horwitz also stayed hot, extending his hitting streak to six with a 2 for 3 performance.

Gonzales went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI, as well. As a team, the Pirates totaled nine hits and batted 4 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

Most valuable player

No need to overthink this one: Skenes.

Up next

The Pirates will hope for more success from their starting pitching when Mitch Keller (4-1, 2.87) takes the mound at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday night. Jose Quintana (1-2, 3.90) will get the start for the Rockies.