PITTSBURGH -- Facing the top team in the NL Central presented an opportunity for the Pirates to showcase that they belong. Pittsburgh likely would’ve been content with a series win, but after a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, the Bucs looked to make a statement on Sunday.
The Pirates (50-47) defeated the Brewers, 14-5, to sweep the division leaders and enter the All-Star break three games over the .500 mark -- their best record at the break since 2016. Pittsburgh rallied for 10 runs in the fourth inning as each player in the lineup scored. It’s the first time since 2022 that the Pirates swept the Brewers, and Pittsburgh is 5-1 against Milwaukee in 2026.
“I think it showed everybody in here that this is a legit team on both sides of the ball, and it shows that we can do it and play our best game,” veteran Brandon Lowe said postgame.
With another trip to the Midsummer Classic en route, Paul Skenes started strong by retiring the first nine batters in order. He worked through the first two innings on just 17 pitches, inducing weak contact and topping out at 97.3 mph.
Skenes remains one of the game’s best starting pitchers, bouncing back from a nine-game winless streak with two earned runs in six innings against the Braves on Tuesday in a blowout win. Before that, Skenes posted the worst start of his career, allowing seven earned runs against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, where he’ll travel for the All-Star Game this week.
Skenes is the fourth MLB pitcher to start their career with three consecutive All-Star nods, joining Tom Seaver, Doc Gooden and Yu Darvish. He’ll take two days completely off over the break. This is the best Pirates team Skenes has played on, and they gave him a four-run cushion in the second inning as Henry Davis homered. Skenes believes the Pirates “suffocated” Milwaukee in the series finale.
“It’s cool,” Skenes said of Pittsburgh’s record. “Try to grow that gap between wins and losses. After we're in a good spot. Kind of wish we didn't have an All-Star break at this point because we're playing good baseball. But I'm super confident in our ability to show up after the break. It’s been fun to be a part of. So we'll keep it rolling. A lot of baseball left to play. It’s going to be a fun year.”
Christian Yelich broke up Skenes’ perfect game in the fourth with a double to left field. Jackson Chourio followed with a double to right-center, cutting into the deficit. Chourio came around on a fielder’s choice, but Skenes and the Pirates’ offense were still heavily in control.
Pittsburgh added 10 runs in the fourth as Skenes looked on from the dugout. The Pirates' offense, which ranks in the top three in MLB in runs (516), hits (886) and OPS (.768), performed their typical pass the baton rendition, this time resulting in the second 10-run inning of the year.
The 36-minute frame resulted in a 12-run lead, and Skenes popped back out and fanned two more batters. He exited after 5 1/3 innings and 82 pitches with two earned runs and a massive lead. Milwaukee chipped away in the final innings, but the Pirates proved they were too much to handle and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with come the second half.
While reaching 50 wins at the break for the first time since 2015 -- also the last time Pittsburgh made the postseason -- manager Don Kelly said his squad is not yet where they want to be. Veteran Ryan O’Hearn said this is the first time in his career he’s “fired up” to get the second half going.
The Pirates are two games back in a crowded NL Wild Card race. Pittsburgh has scattered postseason experience among its young roster. Though to Lowe, who made the World Series in 2020 with Tampa Bay, he knows what it takes.
“I have no idea what the standings look like or anything like that,” Lowe said. I just know that the feel in the clubhouse and the way that the game looks that we're putting out there, it looks really good. Let's keep playing good baseball, and we can revisit that in a month or two.”