Rookie Paul Skenes was at it again for the Pittsburgh Pirates, tossing six strong innings in a 4-1 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Monday to open a three-game series.
Skenes (4-0) allowed one run on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. Aroldis Chapman and Colin Holderman each pitched a scoreless inning before David Bednar retired the Reds in order in the ninth for his 15th save.
Elly De La Cruz had three hits and stole his major-league-leading 37th base for Cincinnati, which entered the game tied with the Pirates for third place in the National League Central. The Reds have lost three straight and five of their last seven.
Skenes, the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, has allowed three earned runs or fewer in all seven of his starts for Pittsburgh, which has won three of its last four games.
Mets 14, Rangers 2
Brandon Nimmo homered and had four RBIs, DJ Stewart smacked a three-run shot and New York steamrolled host Texas in Arlington, Texas.
Francisco Lindor went 4-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs, and Pete Alonso and Francisco Alvarez both had three hits and two RBIs as New York won its sixth straight game to match a season best. The Mets’ 22 hits were their most since the team had 23 against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 15, 2019.
David Peterson (3-0) allowed two runs and four hits over six innings for New York. He struck out six and walked three. Texas starter Jon Gray (2-3) was clobbered for nine runs and 11 hits in three-plus innings. He struck out two and walked none as the Rangers lost for the ninth time in their last 13 games.
Cardinals 7, Marlins 6 (12 innings)
Masyn Winn slugged a two-run homer in the top of the 12th inning to propel St. Louis past host Miami.
Miami scored once in the bottom of the 12th on Nick Gordon’s RBI triple, but he was thrown out at home on an attempted sacrifice fly to medium right field. The Cardinals blew three leads — 1-0, 4-1 and 5-4 — before finally hanging the loss on reliever A.J. Puk (0-8), who allowed Winn’s homer.
St. Louis also got a solo homer and a stellar catch by center fielder Michael Siani and two-run triple by Ivan Herrera. Andrew Kittredge (1-3) blew the save in the 11th but got the win. Marlins designated hitter Bryan De La Cruz ultimately forced extras with a three-run homer that tied the score 4-4 in the eighth inning.
