The Paul Skenes Experience came to Milwaukee with astronomical hype and left with the needle still pointing all the way up.
The magnificent rookie right-hander for the Pittsburgh Pirates not only continued his run of excellence to begin his big-league career, he didn’t even allow a hit, completely locking down the Brewers for seven innings in a 1-0 Pirates victory on Thursday.
Skenes left the game after throwing 99 pitches through seven innings, though, and Brewers batters Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell jumped on reliever Colin Holderman for back-to-back singles in the eighth to stave off history.
Milwaukee, however, stranded the bases loaded in the eighth when William Contreras struck out to end the inning and had to settle for the narrow defeat. It wasted an excellent outing from newcomer Aaron Civale, who allowed only the one run in 6 1/3 innings during his first home Brewers start.
Notching new career highs in strikeouts (11) and innings pitched (9), Skenes’ masterpiece left the Brewers facing their first home series loss in 11 tries, dating back to an April 26-28 series against the New York Yankees. Skenes, who could easily make his next start Tuesday in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, struck out at least one batter in every inning but his last, when second baseman Nick Gonzales made a pair of tough plays to preserve the no-hitter.
Skenes, who has made 11 starts this year, now has an ERA of 1.90.
Civale, in his second Brewers start since the team acquired him from Tampa Bay, held serve as best he could, allowing six hits and one run, with two walks and six strikeouts. It’s the second time Civale has matched up with Skenes this year; the Rays won the first clash, 3-1.
Former Brewers catcher Yasmani Grandal, however, belted a one-out double to the wall in the seventh, bringing around Jack Suwinski for the game’s lone run. Reliever Bryan Hudson shook off a recent run of struggles with a clean 1 1/2 innings of work thereafter, including one walk and one strikeout.
The Brewers fell to 54-40 with Washington coming to town over the weekend for the final series before the all-star break.
Brewers miss a golden opportunity with the bases loaded, and Pirates lead is still 1-0 into the ninth
After Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell singled leading off the eighth against Colin Holderman, the Pirates reliever bounced back to strike out Andruw Monasterio and Blake Perkins. Brice Turang walked, bringing up all-star starter William Contreras in a huge spot, but he waved and missed at strike three to leave the bases loaded.
The Pirates lead remains 1-0 heading into the ninth, with Christian Yelich, Willy Adames and Sal Frelick due up in the ninth and Elvis Peguero on the mound for the top half.
Skenes leaving the game and Brewers immediately break up the no-no
Didn’t expect Paul Skenes to get pulled after he threw 99 pitches through seven innings with the Pirates’ lead a tenuous 1-0.
The phenom allowed one walk and hit one batter but struck out a career-high 11. Reliever Colin Holderman checks in with the added pressure of a no-hitter still intact, and Jake Bauers immediately greets him with a clean single on the second pitch.
No-hitter gone, but what about the lead?
Brewers now getting no-hit through seven
It took a couple harder-than-average plays from Pittsburgh second baseman Nick Gonzalez, but Paul Skenes has now thrown seven no-hit innings against the Brewers. We move to the eighth with Pittsburgh ahead, 1-0.
The good news is that the Brewers didn’t strike out that frame; it’s the first time Milwaukee hasn’t struck out in any of Skenes’ innings today. The bad news is that meant his pitch count barely took a hit. At 99 pitches with a no-hitter intact, it feels pretty certain that he’ll get a shot at the eighth, although there is some stirring in the Pirates bullpen.
The Pirates take a lead thanks to double by former Brewers catcher
Yasmani Grandal, who’s batting just .182 with a .510 OPS this year, just burned his old team with a one-out double against Aaron Civale, scoring Jack Suwinski from first with the first run of the game. Pittsburgh now has a 1-0 lead in the seventh.
Suwinski narrowly beat out what could have been a double play mere seconds earlier. The Brewers elected not to challenge the close call, and three pitches later, Suwinski was sliding ahead of a throw to the plate.
Civale has been good, but he’s showing some cracks in the seventh, allowing a single, fielder’s choice, double and a walk against the bottom of the Pirates order (plus leadoff man Andrew McCutchen), leading to his exit from the game.
Grandal, of course, was one of Milwaukee’s best players during the 2019 season.
With Paul Skenes only at 93 pitches through six no-hit innings, it seems likely that he’ll be back out for at least the seventh. The Brewers will have to either solve that riddle or orchestrate some late magic against the bullpen.
Bryan Hudson, who’s been in a rough patch over the past three outings after a tremendous start to the season, is on in relief.
Paul Skenes has a no-hitter through six but still no score
After six innings, Paul Skenes is having a career day. Through 93 pitches, he has a career-high 11 strikeouts and just one walk.
He’s yet to give up a hit.
Civale, though, is keeping pace. He’s given up four hits and a walk on 82 pitches, but he’s also struck out six.
Despite the hits, the Brewers’ defense has kept Pittsburgh from scoring.
Brice Turang, in particular, has been everywhere, snagging a line drive out of the air in one play and securing a speeding ground ball the next.
Skenes, Civale battling through three innings
Both starting pitchers have been stellar to begin the game.
In his first home start, Civale has five strikeouts and has allowed just two hits and one walk.
For the Pirates, Skenes is living up to his all-star selection. He’s already struck out seven with only one walk and no hits.
He nearly gave up a home run to William Contreras, who crushed a ball out to left field. The ball sailed past the fence but landed left of the yellow foul line pillar, saving Skenes from his eighth home run of the season.
The Brewers, though, have made Skenes work for his strikeouts. The rookie right-hander is already at 63 pitches, compared to Civale’s 44.
Pirates starting lineup
The Pirates return catcher, and former Brewer, Yasmani Grandal to the batting order in place of Joey Bart, who hit a grand slam in Pittsburgh’s 12-2 victory in the series opener. Shortstop Oneil Cruz also makes an appearance after sitting out last game with a hamstring injury he suffered on Monday.
- Andrew McCutchen, designated hitter
- Bryan Reynolds, left field
- Oneil Cruz, shortstop
- Rowdy Tellez, first baseman
- Nick Gonzalez, second baseman
- Joshua Palacios, right field
- Ke’Bryan Hayes, third baseman
- Jack Suwinksi, center field
- Yasmani Grandal, catcher
Brewers starting lineup
The Brewers are going with an elite defensive outfield in a game where fly-ball pitcher Aaron Civale is making his first start at home. It’s the first time the Brewers have started a game with this alignment since Mitchell’s return from injury a week and a half ago.
- Brice Turang, second baseman
- William Contreras, catcher
- Christian Yelich, designated hitter
- Willy Adames, shortstop
- Sal Frelick, left fielder
- Jake Bauers, first baseman
- Garrett Mitchell, left fielder
- Andruw Monasterio, third baseman
- Blake Perkins, center fielder
Aaron Civale, starting pitcher
Brewers game time, TV, radio
- The Milwaukee Brewers finish their series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field beginning at 1:10 p.m. CT on Thursday.
- TV: Bally Sports Wisconsin.
- Radio: AM-620 and a state network
Brewers schedule
Brewers vs. Nationals, 7:10 p.m. Friday. Milwaukee RHP Freddy Peralta (6-4, 3.95) vs. Washington TBA. Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.
Brewers vs. Nationals, 3:10 p.m. Saturday. Milwaukee LHP Dallas Keuchel (0-0, 4.61) vs. Washington LHP Mitchell Paker (5-5, 3.44). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.
Brewers vs. Nationals, 1:10 p.m. Sunday. Milwaukee RHP Colin Rea (8-3, 3.81) vs. Washington RHP Jake Irvin (7-7, 3.13). Broadcasts: TV – Bally Sports Wisconsin. Radio – AM-620.
