Apr 14, 2025, 11:58 PM ET
PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes bounced again from the worst get started of his profession and teamed up with catcher Henry Davis to make a little bit historical past because the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Washington Nationals 10-3 on Monday night time.
Skenes and Davis was the primary pitcher/catcher battery in primary league historical past produced from avid gamers decided on No. 1 within the draft. Skenes (2-1), the highest pick out in 2023, gave up two runs, one earned, and struck out six in six innings because the Pirates ended a three-game dropping streak.
Davis, decided on No. 1 in 2021, singled after changing injured starter Endy Rodriguez within the first inning. Rodriguez lacerated the index finger on his proper hand after Skenes’ pitch hit James Wooden’s foot and deflected towards Rodriguez.
It hasn’t been as clean a experience to the majors for Davis because it used to be for Skenes, however in all probability that is the 12 months the 25-year-old, who had a standout profession at Louisville, sticks with the massive membership. Simply when it appeared he may have the news at the beginning catcher process ultimate season, the Pirates landed Joey Bart, who took over the membership’s number one tasks at the back of the plate.
“[Henry] can name a sport,” Skenes mentioned after the win. “He used to be ready. It isn’t a marvel. I have been with him for the easier a part of two years now. You need to look why he is the kind of participant he’s, you would not have to seem very a ways. For him to come back into a tricky state of affairs, name the sport and catch in addition to he did says so much about it.”
There may well be a window now to achieve further begins at catcher. After the win, Pirates supervisor Derek Shelton advised newshounds that Rodriguez wanted 4 stitches for a laceration on his proper index finger, and {that a} shuttle to the injured checklist appeared most likely.
“Simply being in a position to leap in, and know what [Skenes] sought after to do, and be on his web page beautiful temporarily,” Davis mentioned of his preparation for Monday’s second, “that used to be the function.”
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The 22-year-old Skenes, who gave up a career-worst 5 runs in a loss to St. Louis ultimate week, had little bother with the Nationals. His simplest factor used to be with Pittsburgh’s protection, together with his personal. Skenes, the reigning Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months, used to be tagged with a couple of mistakes for wayward pickoff makes an attempt, the second one of which resulted in an unearned run within the 6th.
By way of then, then again, the Pirates had been conveniently forward, a rarity right through an unsightly opening two-plus weeks to the season stuffed with missteps.
Oneil Cruz had two hits and scored two times whilst batting leadoff. Enmanuel Valdez and Ke’Bryan Hayes each and every drove in 3 runs. Bryan Reynolds drove in a couple of runs. Andrew McCutchen added successful and made a gorgeous sliding grasp in proper box, flinging his 38-year-old frame to the PNC Park turf to rob Keibert Ruiz of successful within the 6th.
Nasim Nunez had two of Washington’s 5 hits. Brad Lord (0-1) slogged via 4⅓ innings, giving up 4 runs, 3 earned, and 6 hits with 3 walks and a strikeout.
The Related Press contributed to this document.
