CLEVELAND — Billy Cook is one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ avid crossword puzzlers.

They’re a common activity across MLB clubhouses, and Cook can usually be found in front of his locker before games, pen in hand, contemplating the clues on his sheet of paper. But for Cook, Sunday featured far more than the crossword or leading the dugout celebrations by hoisting the orange traffic cone.

He went 3 for 4 — setting a career-high in hits for a game — and added two RBIs, a stolen base and strong defense in center field to help lead the Pirates past the Cleveland Guardians, 7-1, in a series-clinching win at Progressive Field.

"You just embrace your role,” Cook said. “Again, it's to help the team, and I know that so far this year, a lot of that has been pinch-running and defense late when we're up. I've embraced it, and then I get opportunities like this and I'm grateful for it. But if I don't for another week, I'm not going to go crazy. It's for the best for the team and I'll be ready.”

Cook only had six hits in 35 at-bats entering Sunday, but in one afternoon, he was able to match half of that production and earn his first RBIs since Sept. 28, 2024.

“To have the attitude that he has — he’s the one on the top step any time someone hits a home run,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “Then for him to come in and contribute today, that’s awesome for him and for the team. Everybody on the team is pulling for him.”

Added Jake Mangum: “He's been my throwing partner since the middle of January. He makes guys around him better. He deserves every single bit of that game. Works his tail off.”

Paul Skenes (9-8, 3.43 ERA) earned his third straight win and tossed seven innings for the first time since May 12, allowing seven hits, one run and striking out eight in 100 pitches.

The Pirates opened the scoring in the second inning. Nick Gonzales led off with a double, and Cook drove him home with a two-out, opposite field single.

Skenes gave up two singles in the third to put runners on the corners, and Guardians leadoff man Steven Kwan bunted in the tying run. With one out, Skenes struck out Travis Bazzana and Kwan was caught stealing at second for an inning-ending double play.

A similar situation arose in the fourth, when Skenes issued a leadoff walk and surrendered a single. Chase DeLauter tagged up from third on a flyout to center field, but Cook’s throw beat him out at home for another double play.

“I got to [home plate] in time to turn around and watch it,” Skenes said. “Those are always fun to watch when they’re coming straight at you. It’s a laser. I don’t think I can throw it from the outfield as hard as he does.”

Kelly took it one step further: “He’s got the strongest arm on the team in the outfield.”

Cook stayed hot with a leadoff triple in the fifth inning, and the Pirates took the lead from a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Back-to-back doubles from Gonzales and Jacob Gonzalez extended the lead to 3-1 in the sixth, and Cook and Mangum knocked consecutive RBI singles to add another two runs.

Esmerlyn Valdez hit a two-run homer — his 12th in the last 31 games — in the ninth to give the Pirates plenty of added cushion.

It was over when …

The bullpen held firm. Mason Montgomery worked a 1-2-3 eighth and Isaac Mattson had no trouble in the ninth.

On the mound

Skenes got five strikeouts and 15 of his 18 whiffs with the fastball, which he threw for 58% of his pitches.

“Feel good about it,” Skenes said of the four-seamer. “That's pretty much what it boils down to. Feel good about it, so we're gonna throw it."

The only damage came on the bunt single in a 22-pitch third inning. But with the help of five outs on the bases, he pieced together his finest start in over two months.

“I think he was in attack mode in the zone,” Kelly said. “Seemed like he was throwing everything for a strike.”

At the plate

The Pirates notched seven of their 11 hits and four runs off Guardians starter Joey Cantillo (8-5, 3.74), who took the loss. Before Sunday, Cantillo hadn’t allowed four runs since June 7. Gonzales had two doubles, and his .311 average is currently fourth in the majors.

Valdez now has 32 RBIs and at least one in each of his last seven games — that’s the longest streak by a Pirate since 2000.

“You see a lot of guys that can hit the ball really far and take big swings hit the ball really hard. You see a lot of those guys in pro ball,” Skenes said. “But you don’t see guys very often that take big swings and hit the ball really hard, really far and not chase and put together as good at-bats as he does.

“To do it in the big leagues when you get called up, it’s special. Glad he’s on our side.”

Bucs bites

— On his weekly radio show with 93.7 The Fan Sunday morning, general manager Ben Cherington said Evan Sisk (left elbow inflammation) started his throwing progression on Saturday. Sisk was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 4, retroactive to July 1, and Cherington said the lefty reliever will likely return in early August.

— Cherington also said Spencer Horwitz (left hamstring strain) and Endy Rodriguez (left glute strain) are aiming to begin their rehab assignments in the next 7-10 days.

— In other news, the deadline for teams to come to terms and sign their draft picks is July 27. The Pirates have made six signings official from Rounds 5-10, and Cherington said they have a “high level of confidence” they’ll sign first-round selection Derek Curiel.

Up next

The Pirates stay on the road and head to New York for three games against the Yankees. Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.49) will start the series opener at 7:05 p.m. ET Monday, and southpaw Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.15) will take the hill for the Yankees.

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