The Arizona Diamondbacks’ offense has done plenty of damage against opposing pitchers this season, but the visitors will be put to the test Sunday afternoon against Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes in the rubber match of the teams’ three-game set.
The Diamondbacks lead the National League with 569 runs and 544 RBIs, totals that rank second and third, respectively, in the majors. Saturday’s 4-2 loss to the Pirates marked the first time since July 21 that Arizona scored less than four runs in a game.
Skenes (6-1, 1.90 ERA) has been dominant since making his major league debut on May 11, putting up the lowest ERA in the major leagues in that time. The 22-year-old right-hander, who was handed his first loss on July 23 against the St. Louis Cardinals, has delivered quality starts in each of his past eight outings. He’s thrown less than six innings only twice in the 13 games he’s pitched, and not since June 5. The other outing was his debut.
Those two games also are the only two in which he’s allowed more than two runs. He hasn’t given up more than three runs in a game this season.
Skenes was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in four starts in July, with opponents hitting a meager .137 against him. He’ll face the Diamondbacks for the first time.
“He’s a very, very tough pitcher, and he’s locked in right now,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve got our work cut out for us.”
The Diamondbacks went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners on Saturday. They threatened with two outs in the ninth, picking up a run to narrow the deficit, and had the would-be tying run on first but couldn’t convert.
“It just didn’t work out,” Lovullo said. “So we’re going to flush it and be ready tomorrow.”
Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds produced the go-ahead runs with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, giving him multiple RBIs in each of the past two games after going eight games without any.
Overall, the left fielder has been rolling since June 1, batting .332 with 12 home runs and 35 RBIs. He’s played 49 games in that span and has been hitless only eight times.
“He doesn’t let the moment get big for him,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “I mean, he’s our best player. And he exemplifies that every night the way he plays. When he gets hot, you’re right, he can carry us for bits.”
Saturday’s win was big for the Pirates in the playoff race, pulling them within 2 1/2 games of the Diamondbacks for the final wild-card spot in the National League. After a bit of a stumble coming out of the All-Star break, Pittsburgh has won four of its past six games.
“This is the type of game we want to be playing every single night,” said pitcher Mitch Keller, who started Saturday. “Every single game matters. Every team we play matters. It’s a lot more fun than the other version of that.”
Right-hander Ryne Nelson (8-6, 4.53 ERA) will be on the mound for Arizona on Sunday for his first career appearance against the Pirates.
Pittsburgh leadoff hitter Andrew McCutchen left Saturday’s game in the sixth inning with left quad tightness. The club said he is day-to-day.
–Field Level Media
