At the beginning of this homestand, Don Kelly implored his team to focus on going 1-0 every day. The Pirates ended it with a literal interpretation of their manager's words.
They notched another 1-0 win over the Angels on Sunday, the second in three games to secure a series win despite not scoring more than a single run in any game.
Given the precarious place the Pirates find themselves in the standings, they’re not exactly in a position to complain.
“If we can go 1-0 every day and win 1-0, our hearts might be racing a little bit faster,” Kelly said. “But we’ll take it.”
As a result, the Pirates (71-73) have won now four consecutive series and six of their past seven, setting up a crucial, week-long road trip to Chicago.
This weekend marked just the seventh time in Pirates history they've had two 1-0 wins in the same series, the first since 2015.
There was plenty involving the number one in this one, starting with a pair of 1-1 picks in Paul Skenes and Henry Davis, Major League Baseball’s most frequently deployed batter since 2024.
Skenes pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings to earn the win, his first since July 19. Some non-traditional bullpen deployment followed, but it worked.
As a result, the Pirates won for the sixth time in their past eight games, wrapping up a 4-2 homestand and keeping hope alive for a season-altering hot streak.
“Trying to keep the line moving,” Skenes said. “We played two good series here and set ourselves up for a couple of good series in Chicago.
“We’re going to end up wherever we are supposed to as long as we play our game. We have a good opportunity. Just have to take advantage of it.”
Davis, who entered the game hitting .167, connected on a 1-0 sinker located up and in, driving it 364 feet to left for his ninth of the season.
It was his first-extra base hit since July 12, snapping a stretch of 26 games without one.
On the defensive side, Oneil Cruz made a terrific, diving catch to open the seventh, sprawling his 6-foot-7 frame on the grass to snare a line drive off the bat of Angels second baseman Christian Moore.
In the fifth, Cruz started an 8-4-2 relay that nailed shortstop Zach Neto at the plate. After making the third out of an inning trying to steal third base on Saturday, it was good to see the bounce back from Cruz, who now has six outfield assists to match his career-high from 2025.
Skenes’ start
Skenes didn’t exactly have wipeout stuff while pitching for the first time against his childhood team. But he was very good, in large part because he (mostly) lived in the strike zone.
After walking three in his last start and struggling to consistently execute pitches, Skenes was more efficient Sunday.
The right-hander threw first-pitch strikes to 17 of 21. He allowed just three hard-hit (95+ mph) balls and racked up 11 whiffs. The first-pitch strike rate (81.0%) was Skenes’ best this season.
Skenes allowed just four hits, including three singles, while walking one and striking out two to run his record to 10-11 on the season.
“I thought it was pretty good,” Skenes said. “I got ahead of a lot of guys, got a lot of weak contact. I executed pitches when I needed to. Guys made plays. It was pretty good all around.”
The outing for Skenes — the first Pirate since Gerrit Cole to have at least 10 wins in his first three seasons — continued an important recent trend for the Pirates, who've seen their starting pitchers pick it up of late.
That group has a 2.95 ERA over the past 12, something that will absolutely need to hold for the Pirates to make a run.
No surprise, the Pirates have won eight of those. Bubba Chandler is next up Tuesday at Rate Field. It’ll be a bullpen day on Wednesday, followed by Jared Jones for the series finale.
Post-Paul plans
Skenes pitched into the sixth but was pulled after getting right fielder Wade Meckler to bounce out to second base.
It was made sense with Skenes at 87 pitches. That’s where the Pirates have been keeping his pitch count. But Kelly made the surprising move to use a lefty, Gregory Soto, to face a right-handed hitter in third baseman Vaughn Grissom.
One thing Kelly cited was Soto’s effectiveness against righties; they have a .183 batting average and .557 OPS against. Soto did the job, recording two quick outs.
Carmen Mlodzinski followed with a rare, one-inning appearance. Camilo Doval and Mason Montgomery finished it off for the Pirates’ 24th one-run victory of the season (in 41 tries) and 10th shutout win.
Kelly said the single-inning usage for Mlodzinski probably won’t stick. Meanwhile, Montgomery earned his 10th save and extended his run to 18 consecutive scoreless appearances, totaling 17 1/3 innings, four walks and 27 strikeouts since July 27.
“He’s pretty dang good,” Skenes said of Montgomery. “I’m glad he’s getting to show it off. I can’t wait to keep watching it.”
By the numbers
71-73: Overall record
5.0: Games back in NL Wild Card race
4: Pirates have won four straight series for the first time since July 9-24, 2024. This also marks four consecutive series victories at home. The last time that happened was May 24-June 19, 2024.
10: Consecutive home interleague series victories for the Pirates.
Davis goes deep
The homer for Davis snapped a stretch of 74 at-bats without one, and it followed a slight adjustment Davis said he made with his back leg.
Due to using his right knee down while catching, Davis said he hasn’t felt the same sort of power or stability in that leg at the plate.
Over the past week or so, he has tweaked how he activates his back hip, something Davis feels like could help his timing and ability to bring out a little more power.
“The last couple years I’ve felt pretty good before the game with my work, and then it doesn't really click in the game,’ Davis said. “I feel like if there are certain things I can do to help activate my back hip. I need to do them.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.