Paul Skenes' Shutout Gem Powers Pirates Past Tigers 3-0

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates Shutout Detroit Tigers Behind Paul Skenes' Dominant Outing

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes delivered a masterful performance, allowing just three hits over six efficient innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers 3-0 on Monday night.

Skenes' Continued Excellence

Skenes (5-8), who recently made history as the first pitcher to start the All-Star game in each of his first two career years, notched his first victory since late May. The 23-year-old right-hander struck out six batters, walked one, and hit one, showcasing the form that has lowered his ERA to a major league-best 1.91. His stellar outing helped the Pirates rebound from a weekend sweep at home.

Pirates' Timely Hitting Against Flaherty

The Pirates offense provided enough support against Detroit's Jack Flaherty (5-10) to give Skenes the breathing room he needed. Spencer Horwitz led the Pirates at the plate with three hits, including a run-scoring single in the second inning. Bryan Reynolds followed two batters later with a crucial two-run single, securing all three runs for Pittsburgh. David Bednar closed out the game in the ninth inning, earning his 14th save of the season.

Tigers' Offense Stymied

Detroit's offense struggled to generate any momentum against Skenes and the Pirates bullpen. Parker Meadows recorded the only extra-base hit for the Tigers with a double. The loss marked Detroit's seventh in their last eight games, though they maintain a double-digit lead in the AL Central. Jack Flaherty lasted only three innings and remains winless in his last seven starts.

Key Moment: Skenes Escapes Jam

The closest the Tigers came to breaking through against Skenes was in the third inning when their first two batters reached base. However, Skenes skillfully navigated the threat, inducing a fly ball, a fielder's choice, and striking out a batter with a 99 mph fastball to escape the jam unscathed.

Milestone Hit for McCutchen

In a notable individual achievement, Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen recorded his 2,233rd career hit with a single in the fourth inning. This milestone moved him past Hall of Famer Willie Stargell, placing him 180th on MLB's all-time hit list.

Looking Ahead: Series Continues

The series continues on Tuesday with Detroit's Casey Mize (9-3, 3.15 ERA) taking the mound as he seeks his first career 10-win season. He will face Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller (3-10, 3.48 ERA).

In summary

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Detroit Tigers 3-0 on July 21, 2025, largely due to a dominant performance by pitcher Paul Skenes, who allowed only three hits over six innings. Skenes lowered his MLB-best ERA to 1.91 and earned his fifth win of the season. The Pirates' offense was sparked by Spencer Horwitz's RBI single and Bryan Reynolds' two-run single against Tigers starter Jack Flaherty. David Bednar secured the save. Detroit's offense struggled, managing only a double from Parker Meadows. Andrew McCutchen also achieved a career milestone, passing Willie Stargell on the all-time hits list. The series continues Tuesday with Casey Mize pitching for Detroit against Mitch Keller for Pittsburgh.

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