MLB Roundup: Skenes' Gem Leads Pirates Past Padres

Rookie pitcher dominates as Pittsburgh wins sixth in seven games

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:22am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's windup and delivery broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the team's official colors.A fractured, geometric illustration captures the raw power and kinetic energy of a young Pirates pitcher's dominant outing.St. Petersburg Today

Rookie right-hander Paul Skenes carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates erupted for five runs in the eighth to defeat the San Diego Padres 7-1 on Tuesday. Oneil Cruz and Nick Gonzales each drove in two runs to back Skenes' strong outing.

Why it matters

Skenes' performance continues the Pirates' recent hot streak and shows the team's promising young talent, while the Padres' offense struggled against the rookie pitcher after scoring 13 runs over their previous two games.

The details

Skenes (2-1) allowed just one run on two hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out six batters. The Pirates broke open a close game with a five-run eighth inning against reliever Adrian Morejon. Rookie Konnor Griffin, Ryan O'Hearn and Henry Davis each had two hits for Pittsburgh.

  • Skenes carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

The players

Paul Skenes

A rookie right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who delivered a dominant performance, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Oneil Cruz

A Pirates outfielder who drove in two runs to support Skenes' strong outing.

Nick Gonzales

A Pirates infielder who also had a two-run hit to help power Pittsburgh's offense.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

The Padres' star shortstop who broke up Skenes' no-hit bid with a sixth-inning single.

Xander Bogaerts

The Padres' designated hitter who hit a solo home run off Skenes in the seventh inning.

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What they’re saying

“Skenes was absolutely dominant today, shutting down our offense for most of the game. We'll need to regroup and find a way to solve him next time.”

— Xander Bogaerts, Padres Designated Hitter

What’s next

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

The takeaway

Paul Skenes' standout performance is a promising sign for the Pirates' young pitching staff, and the team's recent surge has them looking like an early-season surprise in the NL Central.