MLB roundup: Pirates' Paul Skenes stars again in win over Reds

Rookie Paul Skenes once again showcased his talent for the Pittsburgh Pirates, delivering a solid performance by pitching six strong innings in a 4-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds.

Skenes, who now boasts a 4-0 record, allowed just one run on six hits while striking out seven batters. The Pirates' bullpen, consisting of Aroldis Chapman, Colin Holderman, and David Bednar, held off the Reds to secure the win.

On the other side, Elly De La Cruz stood out for Cincinnati with three hits and his league-leading 37th stolen base. Despite the loss, the Reds remain tied with the Pirates for third place in the National League Central.

Skenes, the top pick in the 2023 draft, has been a consistent performer for Pittsburgh, allowing three earned runs or fewer in all seven of his starts. In another game, the St. Louis Cardinals outlasted the Miami Marlins in a 7-6 victory that extended to 12 innings.

Masyn Winn's two-run homer in the 12th inning proved to be the difference-maker, as the Cardinals overcame multiple leads surrendered throughout the game.

Despite a late rally by the Marlins, highlighted by Bryan De La Cruz's three-run homer, St. Louis emerged victorious thanks to key contributions from players like Michael Siani, Ivan Herrera, and Andrew Kittredge.

The Philadelphia Phillies dominated the San Diego Padres with a final score of 9-2. Kyle Schwarber showcased his power with two two-run homers, while Alec Bohm contributed a three-run shot among his three hits. Rafael Marchan also had an impressive performance with four hits and two RBIs. The Phillies displayed their offensive prowess with a total of 18 hits.

On the pitching side, Cristopher Sanchez delivered a solid performance, pitching seven innings and allowing only six hits and two runs (one earned). He recorded five strikeouts and one walk. Manny Machado managed two hits for the struggling Padres, who have now lost four consecutive games. Padres starter Randy Vasquez had a tough outing, surrendering 12 hits and six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

The Red Sox also secured a victory against the Blue Jays with a score of 7-3. Tyler O'Neill led the charge with two solo home runs, while Nick Pivetta pitched seven innings for Boston. Rafael Devers and Ceddanne Rafaela also contributed solo homers for the Red Sox. Pivetta allowed three runs on nine hits. Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi struggled, giving up five runs and seven hits in four innings.

Justin Turner and Davis Schneider managed solo homers for Toronto. In another game, the Atlanta Braves emerged victorious with a score of 2-1 against the Detroit Tigers. Ozzie Albies broke the tie in the eighth inning with a solo home run, measuring at 407 feet. It was Albies' fifth homer of the season and ended his 0-for-15 drought. The Braves have been on a hot streak, winning four of their last five games.

Daysbel Hernandez, who was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier in the day, earned the win as the pitcher. Joe Jimenez, serving as the set-up man due to closer Raisel Iglesias' unavailability, worked a scoreless ninth inning and secured his first save.