Paul Skenes strikes out 10 as the Pirates shut out the Cardinals 7-0 on July 1, 2025. See how the Cards' offense sputtered and find a silver lining.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, that was a tough one to watch. Any hope of starting July with a bang was swiftly extinguished at PNC Park on Tuesday, as the Cardinals' offense was completely dismantled by Pirates phenom Paul Skenes. The final score of 7-0 tells the story, but it doesn't quite capture the futility of a night where the Redbirds looked utterly overmatched at the plate.
The Cardinals failed to advance a runner past second base all night.
From the first pitch, it was clear this was Paul Skenes' night. The flamethrowing righty carved through the Cardinals lineup for seven dominant innings, racking up 10 strikeouts while allowing just a handful of baserunners. The Cardinals' entire offensive output consisted of four scattered singles from Brendan Donovan, Masyn Winn, Alec Burleson, and Willson Contreras. There were no rallies, no threats, no moments of hope. Meanwhile, Cardinals starter Andre Pallante couldn't match him, getting tagged for five runs in four innings to take the loss. A two-run homer and a two-RBI double from the Pirates' Spencer Horwitz provided all the offense Pittsburgh would need, and then some.
While the big league club struggled, there was a significant bright spot in the farm system. Top prospect JJ Wetherholt was officially named to the National League roster for the 2025 Futures Game, a well-deserved honor for the infielder. In his first full professional season, Wetherholt has been a model of plate discipline and production, hitting .305 with an incredible 41 walks to just 35 strikeouts. It's a reminder that while nights like tonight are frustrating, the future pipeline is stocking up with high-end talent.
Beyond Wetherholt, the system continues to show promise. The Triple-A Memphis Redbirds are having a solid season at 43-36, anchored by pitchers like Curtis Taylor and his 3.12 ERA. Further down, DSL outfielder Yaxson Ferreras is turning heads. An in-depth look at another prospect, pitcher Lin, reveals the kind of high-ceiling arm the organization is cultivating. Though still raw at 23, his projectable frame, above-average velocity, and developing changeup have scouts pegging him as a potential mid-rotation starter. His development will be a key storyline to follow, with a potential big-league arrival projected for the 2027-2028 timeframe.
One game is just one game, but getting shut down so completely is a stark reminder of the offensive inconsistency that can plague this team. The loss stings, but the news from the farm system offers a comforting dose of perspective. The challenge now is for the current roster to find a way to bounce back tomorrow and generate some offense, while fans can keep one eye on the promising future that players like Wetherholt and Lin represent. Here's to flushing this one and coming back with some fight.
