MLB roundup: Pirates' Paul Skenes tames Tigers on his 22nd birthday

On his 22nd birthday, Paul Skenes showcased his pitching prowess by striking out nine batters in six innings, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a resounding 10-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the second game of a doubleheader.

Skenes, who is regarded as the top pitching prospect in baseball, demonstrated his skills by allowing only two runs and three hits in his fourth major league start. He displayed his dominance early on with two strikeouts in each of the first two innings and even struck out the side in the fourth inning.

Skenes relied on a combination of his splitter and fastball to keep the Tigers' hitters off balance. With this impressive performance, the flamethrowing right-hander now boasts a 2.45 ERA, 30 strikeouts, and five walks in 22 innings.

In addition to Skenes' stellar outing, Andrew McCutchen made his mark on the game by smashing a three-run homer in the third inning, which also marked his 1,600th hit with the Pirates.

McCutchen, a seasoned veteran who has played for five different teams over his 16-year career in the major leagues, further contributed with a double and a single, driving in a total of four runs. Nick Gonzales also had a standout performance with three hits, including a solo homer, and two RBIs.

On the opposing side, Matt Vierling continued his impressive power surge by hitting his fourth home run in just three games for the Detroit Tigers. However, Tigers starter Keider Montero, making his major league debut, struggled against the Pirates' offense, surrendering four runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings while striking out five.

In another game, the New York Yankees emerged victorious with a narrow 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, California. Luis Gil, the Yankees' starting pitcher, displayed exceptional command by allowing only two hits over eight innings.

Alex Verdugo provided the offensive spark for the Yankees with a home run. Despite a late rally from the Angels in the ninth inning, Yankees closer Clay Holmes managed to escape the jam and secure his 16th save of the season.

The Mariners secured a 2-1 victory over the Astros in 10 innings thanks to J.P. Crawford's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Dominic Canzone's home run contributed to Seattle's win as they aim to sweep the four-game series against their AL West rivals on Thursday.

In another game, the Brewers defeated the Cubs 10-6 with Christian Yelich, Blake Perkins, and Willy Adames hitting two-run homers. Milwaukee roughed up Shota Imanaga, who suffered his first loss of the season after allowing seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Lastly, the Dodgers beat the Mets 10-3 with Will Smith hitting two home runs, including the tiebreaking solo shot in the eighth inning. The Dodgers completed a three-game sweep, outscoring the Mets 18-5 in the series. Pete Alonso left the game after being hit by a pitch, and further tests are pending to determine the extent of his injury.