Offense struggles; Pittsburgh Pirates fall | News, Sports, Jobs

Baltimore Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle (6) beats the throw to first base past Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (2) for a single during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

BALTIMORE — Paul Skenes struck out eight in five two-hit innings to surpass 200 strikeouts before leaving after a season-low 64 pitches in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old Skenes has a majors-best 1.92 ERA over 178 innings in his first full season, and could make as many as three more starts. He pushed the strikeout total to 203, getting Samuel Basallo looking and Dylan Carlson swinging to complete the fifth.

Rookie Dylan Beavers hit the game-winning single — his first walk-off hit — off Kyle Nicolas (1-1) to give Baltimore its seventh victory in eight games. Jackson Holliday pulled the Orioles even in the eighth with a single off Isaac Mattson.

Spencer Horwitz’s homer was the only hit for Pittsburgh in 6ª innings off Tyler Wells in his second start for Baltimore after missing more than a year recovering from arm surgery.

Three Baltimore relievers contributed before Albert Suárez (2-0) pitched a clean 10th, despite a wild pitch that allowed designated runner Oneil Cruz to reach third.

Key moment

Beavers’ winning single in the 10th.

Key stat

Skenes became only the second Pirates pitcher in the Modern Era (since 1901) to reach 200 strikeouts in 180 or fewer innings, joining Oliver Perez (2004).

Clemente honor

The Pirates, SportsNet Pittsburgh and Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that the first live, Spanish-speaking Pirates broadcast will air on Monday in celebration of MLB’s Roberto Clemente Day 2025.

“El dia de Roberto Clemente: Los Piratas en espanol” will honor the legacy of the Pirates and the Puerto Rican legend, airing on SportsNet Pittsburgh-Plus and the SNP 360 app, alongside the traditional English-language broadcast on SNP against the Cubs.

The game is scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m. The telecast will feature Clemente’s son, Roberto Clemente Jr., and three-time All-Star and Puerto Rico native Carlos Baerga on the broadcast team.

Up next

Pittsburgh’s Johan Oviedo (2-0) was set to start today against Cade Povich (3-7, 5.16).