The Pirates fell 1-0 to the Mariners on July 7, 2025, wasting a gem from Paul Skenes and tying an MLB record with their 6th straight shutout game.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a streak for the history books, but not one any Pirates fan was asking for. After sweeping the Cardinals with three straight shutouts, the Bucs have been silenced themselves, dropping three consecutive games to the Seattle Mariners without scoring a single run. The result? Six straight games ending in a shutout, tying a Major League Baseball record and leaving the team in a bizarre state of feast or famine as they open a new series in Kansas City.
Six consecutive shutouts (three wins, three losses), tying the major league record for consecutive games played ending in a shutout.
The series finale against the Mariners was a perfect microcosm of the Pirates' frustrating weekend. Rookie sensation Paul Skenes was practically unhittable, striking out 10 batters over five innings and lowering his ERA to a minuscule 1.94. And yet, he took the loss in the 1-0 heartbreaker. The offense was nowhere to be found, completing a full series sweep where they were outscored 6-0. The lone bright spot was a defensive gem from Oneil Cruz, who uncorked a 105.2 mph laser from the outfield for an assist, the second-hardest throw tracked by Statcast. But even superhuman defense can't win games when you don't score.
If the big-league club's offensive woes have you down, look no further than the farm system for a dose of optimism. Over the holiday weekend, the future of Pirates pitching was on full display. Top prospect Bubba Chandler continued his dominant season at Triple-A Indianapolis with six scoreless innings. Even more impressively, the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers combined to throw a nine-inning perfect game on July 4th, the first of its kind in the minor leagues since 2017. These performances are a powerful reminder that the talent pipeline is flowing, even when the runs aren't.
Looking for any spark, the front office made a depth move over the weekend, signing veteran right-hander Yohan Ramírez to a minor league deal. He'll report to Triple-A, providing another experienced arm in the system. But the immediate focus is on Monday night in Kansas City. Southpaw Andrew Heaney (4-7, 4.16 ERA) gets the ball for the series opener against the Royals. The question on every fan's mind is simple: can the bats finally break their silence? The pitching has held up its end of the bargain, but the Pirates cannot afford to waste another strong performance.
The Pirates are a team of extremes right now. Historically great pitching one week, historically futile offense the next. As they face the Royals, the mission is clear: get a run, any run, and break this bizarre streak. The talent is there, both on the mound and waiting in the wings. Now it's time for the offense to wake up and prove this team can be more than just a historical footnote.
