Paul Skenes allowed two hits over eight stellar innings and Brandon Lowe hit a towering homer to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night in Phoenix.
Lowe’s first-inning blast off Michael Soroka was all the offense Skenes (5-2) needed as he silenced Arizona hitters. The right-hander struck out seven and walked none while pitching at least eight innings for the fourth time in his career.
It was the longest scoreless outing ever produced by Skenes, who has yet to last nine innings in a game.
Gregory Soto worked around a one-out walk in the ninth for his second save.
Skenes retired the first 14 batters he faced before Lourdes Gurriel Jr. reached on an infield tapper in the fifth. Nolan Arenado followed with a single to left before Skenes retired Gabriel Moreno on a fly to right to start a streak of 10 consecutive retired hitters.
In the eighth, Skenes struck out the side, getting Gurriel, Arenado and Moreno to fan swinging, leaving his pitch count at 97. Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly informed Skenes his night was through when he got to the dugout.
Skenes didn’t walk a batter for his fourth consecutive start. He has issued just seven free passes in 42 innings this year.
Soto walked Geraldo Perdomo with one out in the ninth before retiring Ketel Marte on a fly to right and Corbin Carroll on a game-ending grounder to first.
Soroka (4-2) allowed one run and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two.
Lowe and Bryan Reynolds had two hits apiece for the Pirates, who have won four of their past five contests.
Arizona had lost five of its past six games.
Lowe came up with one out in the first and jumped all over Soroka’s fourth pitch of the game, sending a changeup over the 25-foot wall in center. The blast was measured at 435 feet.
Pittsburgh had a chance to add on in the seventh as Konnor Griffin led off with a single and stole second. One out later, Kevin Ginkel replaced Soroka, and he promptly balked Griffin to third.
Oneil Cruz hit a hard grounder toward Marte, and the Arizona second baseman gunned Griffin out at the plate. Cruz stole second and was stranded when Lowe flied out to center.
