MIAMI -- Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez outdueled Paul Skenes in Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory over the Pirates at loanDepot park.
In a matchup of National League Wild Card hopefuls, Miami (61-59) won its third in a row and entered play 3 1/2 games behind the D-backs and Phillies in the standings.
Pérez tossed a career-high-tying seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits -- all singles -- with two walks and seven strikeouts. He didn’t permit a runner in scoring position thanks to Heriberto Hernández throwing out former teammate Ronny Simon trying to stretch a single into a double to end the seventh.
Over his last 11 starts, Pérez has posted a 1.82 ERA -- fourth lowest in the Majors for pitchers with at least 60 innings thrown since May 22 when this stretch began.
The 23-year-old Pérez set a career high for most starts in a season (21) and added to his already career high for frames (116 2/3).
Miami did just enough against the reigning NL Cy Young winner, Skenes, who was chased after just 65 pitches.
With Kyle Stowers landing on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain, Griffin Conine moved from right field to first base, allowing Esteury Ruiz to slot in his place.
Ruiz, batting ninth in the lineup, ambushed Skenes’ 95.5 mph four-seamer for a solo homer with one out in the third and surpassed his single-season career-high with his sixth home run.
In the fifth, Ruiz used his legs to manufacture another run. He reached on a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a delayed steal. When shortstop Jacob Gonzalez’s short-hopped throw got past first baseman Spencer Horwitz and into the dugout on Xavier Edwards’ grounder up the middle, Ruiz scored on the play.