Pirates' Skenes takes no-hit bid into 6th, beats Padres 7-1

Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales each had clutch two-run hits to back up a gem by Paul Skenes.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:22am

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in deep navy, forest green, and crimson red, conceptually representing the dynamics and energy of a baseball game.A fractured, cubist depiction of a pivotal moment in the Pirates' victory over the Padres, capturing the raw energy and dynamics of the game.San Diego Today

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing a hit, leading the Pirates to a 7-1 victory over the San Diego Padres. Skenes gave up one run on two hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six. Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales each had two-run hits to power the Pirates' offense.

Why it matters

Skenes' strong outing continues the Pirates' impressive start to the season, as they've now won 6 of their last 7 games. The Padres, meanwhile, had their three-game winning streak snapped in the loss.

The details

Skenes (2-1) carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing a one-out single to Fernando Tatis Jr. He finished with 6 1/3 innings pitched, allowing one run on two hits with six strikeouts. Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales each had two-run hits to give the Pirates a 4-1 lead in the eighth inning, and the team tacked on three more runs in the frame to seal the victory. Pittsburgh's starting pitching has been stellar, as they were the last team in the majors whose starters had not allowed a home run this season prior to Xander Bogaerts' solo shot in the seventh.

  • Skenes took a no-hitter into the 6th inning on April 7, 2026.
  • The Pirates scored 5 runs in the 8th inning to pull away on April 7, 2026.

The players

Paul Skenes

The Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher who took a no-hitter into the 6th inning and earned the win, allowing 1 run on 2 hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Oneil Cruz

The Pirates outfielder who had a two-run hit in the 5th inning to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

Nick Gonzales

The Pirates infielder who had a clutch two-run hit in the 8th inning to extend the Pirates' lead to 4-1.

Xander Bogaerts

The Padres shortstop who hit a solo home run off Skenes in the 7th inning, the first home run allowed by a Pirates starting pitcher this season.

Nick Pivetta

The Padres starting pitcher who struck out 8 but allowed 2 runs over 5 innings in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to build on this momentum and keep playing strong baseball.”

— Paul Skenes, Pirates Pitcher

What’s next

The Pirates will look to continue their hot streak when they host the Padres again on Wednesday night.

The takeaway

Skenes' dominant outing and the Pirates' timely hitting have them surging in the early part of the season, while the Padres' three-game winning streak was snapped in the loss. This game highlighted the Pirates' strong starting pitching and their ability to come through with big hits late in the game.