Tampa, Florida – Paul Skenes needed almost three tickets to warm Wednesday, then struck out six in seven tickets and Pittsburgh’s pirates beat the Rays of Tampa Bay 4-2 in George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Oneil Cruz hit his second home run of the season and led another to give Skenes, the rookie of the year of the National League 2024, his first 2025 victory.
The 22 -year -old right did not walk with a hitter and was on the mound when the Rays scored a career not won in the sixth. The launching error of Isaiah Kiner-Falefa in the land ball of Jonn Deluca allowed the Rays to their only corridor in the score position against Skenes. He scored in the land of Brandon Lowe.
Skenes generated 13 swings, but did not hit his first hitter until the third entry, a race first for him.
Ryan Pepet launched five tickets for the Rays, allowing two races in five hits, struggling three and walking three.
With one at the top of the fifth, Cruz led a change of Ryan Pepet 391 feet to the field of the left center to give the pirates a two -run advantage.
It was the first time in his career that Skenes was the first two tickets of a game without recording a punch. His first punch arrived with two outs in the third entry when Lowe got to balance and get lost in three pitches.
The pirates return to Pittsburgh to open their season at PNC Park on Friday against the New York Yankees with RHP Mitch Keller on the mound.
The rays of Tampa Bay are directed to Texas with Zack Littell prepared to face RHP Tyler Mahle.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com
