PITTSBURGH — This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.
Paul Skenes went through another rough start on Friday, Sept. 18, giving up five runs in the first four innings against the Kansas City Royals. The Pirates (77-77) went on to score six runs in a row, however, pulling in front in a dramatic seventh inning and hanging on to win 8-5 behind a Gregory Soto save.
Scoring Plays
Top 1st, 1-0 KC: First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino pulled a two-out home run 395 feet to right field to give the visitors an early lead off Skenes.
Top 3rd, 4-0 KC: Pasquantino added another RBI in the third as the Royals strung together three consecutive two-out hits. A Maikel Garcia double pushed the lead to 4-0, but Garcia got thrown out at third to end the inning.
Bottom 3rd, 4-2 KC: Konnor Griffin hit a leadoff single, then Brandon Lowe clubbed his 32nd home run of 2026.
Top 4th, 5-2 KC: Skenes gave up a leadoff home run to Michael Massey as momentum swung back in the Royals’ favor.
Bottom 4th, 5-4 KC: Henry Davis doubled home a run, his hit putting two runners in scoring position with one out and the top of the order due up. Konnor Griffin grounded out to close the gap to one run and chased starter Randy Dobnak from the game. Lowe went down on three pitches to end the rally.
Bottom 5th, 5-5: Oneil Cruz hit a one-out double, then took third on a single from Nick Gonzales. Ryan O’Hearn grounded out to plate the tying run.
Bottom 7th, 8-5 PIT: Spencer Horwitz roped a two-out single to right that gave the Pirates their first lead of the game. Konnor Griffin brought home another run with his fourth hit of the night.
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