Paul Skenes Leads Pirates to Win Over Padres

Skenes dominates Padres with 6.1 innings of one-run ball as Pirates offense breaks through late

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:11am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into fragmented geometric shapes and planes in shades of navy, green, and orange, conveying the dynamic energy and intensity of the game.Skenes' masterful pitching performance and the Pirates' late offensive surge combine to deliver a decisive victory over the Padres.Today in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes delivered a dominant performance, holding the San Diego Padres to just one run over 6.1 innings as the Pirates secured a 7-1 victory at PNC Park. Skenes struck out six batters and took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning before surrendering a solo home run to Xander Bogaerts. The Pirates offense broke through late, scoring five runs in the eighth inning to pull away.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Pirates rolling, as they have now won 7 of their last 9 games. Skenes, the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner, bounced back from a rough Opening Day outing with his best start of the 2026 season so far. The Pirates' strong start has them in early contention in the NL Central division.

The details

Skenes was in control throughout, relying heavily on his four-seam fastball and sinker to keep the Padres hitters off balance. He didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning and the only run he surrendered came on a solo home run by Bogaerts in the seventh. The Pirates offense struggled to get going early against Padres starter Nick Pivetta, but broke through with a pair of runs in the fifth inning on a two-run single by Oneil Cruz. They then tacked on five more runs in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

  • Skenes gave up five earned runs and didn't make it out of the first inning on Opening Day vs. the New York Mets on March 26.
  • Skenes bounced back vs. the Cincinnati Reds on April 2, giving up just one run over five innings.
  • Skenes delivered his best outing of the season so far against the Padres on April 7.

The players

Paul Skenes

The Pittsburgh Pirates' ace pitcher and 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner, who dominated the Padres with 6.1 innings of one-run ball.

Oneil Cruz

The Pirates' center fielder who delivered a two-run single in the fifth inning to give the team the lead.

Xander Bogaerts

The Padres' shortstop who hit a solo home run off Skenes in the seventh inning to account for the Padres' only run.

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What’s next

The Pirates will look to continue their strong start to the season when they host the Padres again on April 8 and 9.

The takeaway

Skenes' dominant outing and the Pirates' late offensive outburst highlighted the team's ability to win in different ways, showcasing their depth and balance as they aim to contend in the NL Central.