Paul Skenes' rough inning costs the Pirates in a 4-2 loss to the Brewers on June 26. See how the disastrous frame unfolded and how Oneil Cruz fared in his return.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night that started with questions about hustle and ended with a reminder that even the most electric arms are human. Paul Skenes, the Pirates' phenomenal rookie ace, had one disastrous inning that proved to be the difference, as the Bucs fell to the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2, spoiling the return of Oneil Cruz to the lineup.
Paul Skenes allowed all four of the game's runs in a single, chaotic 37-pitch second inning.
For a pitcher who has looked nearly untouchable all season, the second inning on Wednesday was a genuine shock. The reigning NL Rookie of the Year was tagged for four runs on four hits and two walks, unraveling in a 37-pitch frame that decided the game's fate. While he settled down to complete five innings with four strikeouts, the damage was done. Across the diamond, Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski was masterful, tossing five shutout innings and fanning eight, showing the Pirates exactly what they were up against.
All eyes were on shortstop Oneil Cruz, who was back in the starting lineup after being publicly benched by manager Derek Shelton for not running out a ground ball. His return was less about fireworks and more about getting back to business. Cruz reached base on a two-base error in the seventh and came around to score on a Tommy Pham single, but his presence was more notable for what it represented: a line drawn in the sand by management regarding effort. It was a necessary step, but one player's return couldn't fix the team's bigger issues on this night.
With their ace stumbling, the Pirates' offense couldn't mount a rescue. The bats were mostly silent against Misiorowski and the Brewers' bullpen, squandering a key opportunity in the fourth by grounding into a double play. The team didn't get on the board until the seventh, thanks to Tommy Pham's RBI single, and added another run in the eighth on Spencer Horwitz's double. But it was too little, too late, highlighting a recurring theme: when the pitching isn't perfect, this offense struggles to pick up the slack.
Now sitting at a frustrating 32-50, the Pirates head back to the friendly confines of PNC Park to regroup. They'll open a series against the New York Mets on Friday with Mitch Keller (1-10, 4.02 ERA) taking the mound. After a tough road trip defined by a lack of hustle and a rare slip-up from their ace, the question is whether a return home can spark the change this team desperately needs.
