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Bucs get another ‘W’ in Chicago

The Associated Press CHICAGO — Paul Skenes pitched five effective innings while struggling with his location, and the Pittsburgh Pirates handed the Chicago Cubs another tough loss with a 5-0 victory on Tuesday night. Skenes worked out of bases-loaded jams in the first two innings. The rookie right-hander allowed four hits and walked four — matching his season high — but the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s amateur draft struck out six. “He kept his composure,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He stayed calm even when the pitch count got up and he was able to ...

Reynolds, McCutchen power Pirates

The Associated Press CHICAGO — Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen homered during Pittsburgh’s four-run eighth inning, and the Pirates cooled off the Chicago Cubs with a 5-3 victory on Monday night. Chicago returned home after closing out an 8-1 trip with six consecutive victories. It was hoping to add to its push for the third NL wild card against Pittsburgh, but it blew a 3-0 lead in the opener of a three-game series. The Pirates began the eighth with three straight hits against Jorge Lopez (2-3). Pinch-hitter Isiah Kiner-Falefa reached on a bloop single and Nick Gonzales had ...

Merrill overtakes Skenes

At the All-Star break, the one award race that seemed like it might be over was for National League Rookie of the Year. Not so fast. A terrific month of August has helped San Diego’s Jackson Merrill emerge as the new favorite for the honor, displacing Pittsburgh right-hander Paul Skenes. The flip in the betting odds has been dramatic. Skenes was a -1200 favorite at the break, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. Now it’s Merrill who is the pick at -800. It’s not as though Skenes has done anything to lose the award. The 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick is 8-2 with a 2.23 ERA and a ...

Keller roughed up in Pirates’ setback

CLEVELAND — Kyle Manzardo hit his first two major league homers, Alex Cobb did not allow a baserunner through the first six innings and the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-1, on Sunday. Manzardo, recalled from Triple-A Columbus before the game, homered in the fourth and sixth against Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller. Manzardo batted .207 in 30 games earlier this season during his initial MLB stint. “I knew coming back that I didn’t have one yet, so that was on my list of things to do,” Manzardo said. “It took a little weight off my ...

Guardians outslug Bucs to pick up victory

The Associated Press CLEVELAND — Rookie Jhonkensy Noel hit a two-run homer and Andres Gimenez followed with a solo shot in the fifth inning, leading the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Emmanuel Clase became Cleveland’s career saves leader, notching his 150th — and 40th this season — by working the ninth. Clase gave up a leadoff homer to Andrew McCutchen before getting three outs and passing Cody Allen on the club list. Clase has a legitimate Cy Young case with an ERA under 1.00 and by converting 27 straight save opportunities ...

Bucs happy to see offensive Cubs leave town

The Associated Press PITTSBURGH — Christian Bethancourt drove in seven runs, including a go-ahead two-run single in the ninth, as the Chicago Cubs rallied past the Pittsburgh Pirates 14-10 on Wednesday to sweep a three-game series. The Cubs trailed by seven through six innings before taking advantage of another shaky performance by Pittsburgh’s bullpen. Bethancourt hit a two-run homer in the seventh to start Chicago’s surge. The catcher added a two-run double in the eighth and laced a sharp bases-loaded single to left against Pirates closer David Bednar (3-7) to complete the ...