MIAMI — The Pirates lost a game on Tuesday. Fortunately for them, it looks like it doesn’t extend beyond that, into something affecting the status of Paul Skenes.
Their bats went quiet, as Pittsburgh finished with just four hits during a 2-0 loss to the Marlins at loanDepot Park, their fourth shutout since the All-Star break. The bigger storyline, however, was Skenes exiting after just five innings and 65 pitches.
Manager Don Kelly said postgame that didn’t involve an injury, though he did acknowledge Skenes is having to grind through outings and innings.
“Anybody this time of year is …. not injured, but guys in August aren’t 100%,” Kelly said. “It wasn’t injury-related that he came out. Just thought it gave us the best chance to win there.”
Team-wise, it was another tough night for the Pirates, who are now 6.5 games out of the last National League Wild Card.
As for Skenes, he was efficient at times, but there were some troubling numbers, as well. His four-seam fastball was down 1.2 mph, sitting at 95.7 mph. He allowed eight hard-hit balls (95+ mph), and his four-seamer netted an average exit velocity of 100.0 mph.
Kelly cited some pitches running arm side, a problem that has plagued Skenes in recent starts, as well as the velocity.
On the flip side, the Pirates did not advance a runner to second base, as they lost for the 11th time in their past 14 games, falling to 58-63 on the year. The primary reason was their inability to solve Marlins starter Eury Perez (7 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts).
“He did a good job locating,” Spencer Horwitz said. “I think we could have done a better job of grinding out more at-bats, trying to get on base.”
They didn't get a baserunner until the third, when Esmerlyn Valdez singled and was wiped out on a double-play ball hit by Jacob Gonzalez.
Ronny Simon gave the Pirates a third hit with his single to left in the seventh but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. Another baserunning mistake.
“We can’t make an out there,” Kelly said. “That run doesn’t mean anything, and we have to be smarter there.”
Right fielder Esteury Ruiz gave the Marlins a 1-0 lead with a no-doubt, solo home run in the bottom of the third. It came on a first-pitch fastball at the top of the zone. Ruiz blasted it high to left, 384 feet at 105.1 mph.
The Marlins doubled their lead thanks to a Pirates error in the fifth. Skenes hit Ruiz, who promptly stole second. He scored when Gonzalez dove to field a ground ball off the bat of second baseman Xavier Edwards, and the Pirates shortstop threw wildly to first.
“It’s tough,” Kelly said. “Everybody is going through it. We need to keep grinding and find a way. It’s frustrating for everybody. When you’re going out there and battling for something, there is different pressure.
“We need to find a way to be able to learn how to play with that, because that’s the expectation.”
It looked like the fifth inning might've gone sideways for Skenes and the Pirates. However, Bryan Reynolds robbed what would've been a two-run homer from first baseman Griffin Conine, a catch resembling a few Reynolds has made at PNC Park this season.
The final tally on Skenes included two runs (one earned) allowed on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts.
Skenes said he didn’t argue with Kelly and said he probably would have pulled himself, too. Kelly’s description: “He took it well.”
But it was still the Pirates’ three-time All-Star getting a quick hook with the team needing to snap out of this funk immediately.
It’s all leading to some bigger-picture conversations within the Pirates clubhouse, as it should.
“We just have to keep playing our game,” Skenes said. “I don’t know why we’re probably not playing up to that standard right now. I don’t think you can really point at any one person. I think there are probably a few of us in the clubhouse who can say that we could pitch a little better, hit a little better, play a little better defense or whatever it is.
“It being August doesn’t help. We just have to enjoy it, find the joy in the game and have fun. If we do that, we’ll get back to who we are.”
Strong game from Davis
With Endy Rodriguez day-to-day due to left hip discomfort, Henry Davis again started behind the plate. This was a strong game for the Pirates backstop, dropping down a bunt for a base hit in the third, throwing out a runner in the sixth and completing a pair of strikeouts with successful challenges.
While Davis certainly has work to do with the bat — he’s hitting just .176 — his defense has proven to be a marked upgrade over anything provided by Rodriguez or Rafael Flores Jr.
“I thought he did a good job,” Kelly said of Davis. “I feel like since the All-Star break we’ve been a little better from a challenging perspective. We need to continue to work on it and be better. It could be a huge asset, and I thought Henry did a nice job, especially getting the strikeouts.”
Ramirez follows
It didn't matter due to the lack of offense, but Yohan Ramirez was outstanding following Skenes, delivering three innings of shutout ball while striking out five.
Over his past 22 games, Ramirez has allowed just one earned run in 32 2/3 innings, which works out to an ERA of 0.28. He's struck out 40 batters during that span.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.