Skenes dominant into 8th, McCutchen hits go-ahead single as Pirates win 2-1 to sweep Phillies

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Skenes again pitched into the eighth for Pittsburgh before Andrew McCutchen came through with a go-ahead single that inning, helping the Pirates complete a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies with a 2-1 win on Sunday.

Skenes lowered his ERA to 1.88 while his record remained at 4-6. The 23-year-old ace gave up one unearned run on two hits with seven strikeouts and one walk in 7 2/3 innings before getting pulled for Braxton Ashcraft (1-0), who got the final four outs for his first win in the majors.

Cristopher Sánchez (5-2) walked Oneil Cruz to start the Pirates’ half of the eighth. McCutchen then hit a broken-bat single to right off Owen Kerkering and Cruz beat Nick Castellanos’ throw home after stumbling around third.

The Phillies have lost five straight and nine of 10.

Skenes is 1-4 in his past eight starts, even with allowing five runs in 42 1/3 innings over his last six. He gave up one run in eight innings against Houston in his previous outing.

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes, left, scores as Philadelphia Phillies catcher Rafael Marchan, right, applies the late tag during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Sánchez surrendered two runs — the first on an RBI double from Jared Triolo in the second — and five hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings.

Key moment

Ashcraft entered as boos subsided from the decision to pull Skenes with the bases empty and two outs in the eighth. He walked Marsh before forcing Marchán into a groundout. Ashcraft finished the game by getting Alec Bohm to hit into a double play.

Key stat

Skenes has allowed no more than six hits in each of his 37 appearances in the majors.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Up next

Phillies: RHP Zack Wheeler (6-2, 2.96 ERA) is set to start Monday, opening a three-game home series against the Cubs and LHP Matthew Boyd (5-3, 3.01).

Pirates: RHP Mike Burrows (1-1, 5.27) will take the mound in the first of a three-game series against the Marlins on Monday.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, left, tags out Philadelphia Phillies’ Otto Kemp, right, on a steal attempt during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

More Articles