Pirates sweep Phillies as eighth‑inning play decides game
The Pirates completed a three‑game sweep of the Phillies with a 2‑1 win at PNC Park, highlighted by Andrew McCutchen’s broken‑bat single that drove in the go‑ahead run in the eighth inning.
Key points
- Pirates beat Phillies 2‑1 to finish a three‑game sweep.
- Andrew McCutchen’s broken‑bat single in the eighth drove in the winning run.
- Rookie Paul Skenes allowed one unearned run over seven innings, lowering his ERA to .88.
- Braxton Ashcraft earned his first major‑league win by closing the game.
- Phillies’ losing streak extended to five games.
The Pittsburgh Pirates completed a stunning three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies with a 2-1 victory Sunday at PNC Park, thanks to a late-game heroics and dominant pitching. Rookie sensation Paul Skenes dazzled into the eighth inning, allowing just one unearned run on two hits, striking out seven, and lowering his ERA to.88 before being pulled with two outs in the eighth.
The decisive moment came when Andrew McCutchen delivered a broken-bat single to right, allowing Oneil Cruz to score after a dramatic slide around third base. The Pirates’ bullpen held on, with Braxton Ashcraft earning his first major league win by recording the final four outs.
Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez was strong, striking out nine over seven innings but was tagged with the loss after surrendering the go-ahead run in the eighth The defeat extended Philadelphia’s losing streak to five games and marked their ninth loss in the last ten contests.
The Pirates, now 26-40, look to build on this momentum as they open a new series against the Marlins, while the Phillies return home to face the Cubs, hoping to end their skid.
Your questions, answered
Who hit the decisive run‑scoring single for the Pirates against the Phillies?
Andrew McCutchen delivered a broken‑bat single that allowed Oneil Cruz to score in the eighth inning.
What was Paul Skenes’s performance in the Pirates’ win over the Phillies?
Skenes pitched seven innings, gave up one unearned run on two hits, struck out seven and lowered his ERA to .88 before being pulled with two outs in the eighth.
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