Skenes Flirts with No-Hitter as Pirates Top Padres 7-1

Reigning NL Cy Young winner Skenes shines in second straight strong start for Pittsburgh

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:33am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in bold, angular shapes and colors that capture the energy and movement of a baseball game, with players and the field abstracted into a dynamic, cubist composition.A cubist interpretation of a pivotal moment in the Pirates' victory over the Padres, with Skenes' dominant pitching and the team's timely hitting distilled into a vibrant, geometric composition.Today in Pittsburgh

Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes put together his second straight solid start, keeping the San Diego Padres hitless until the sixth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates won 7-1. Skenes struck out six and walked two in 6 1/3 innings, lowering his ERA to 5.54. The Padres' first hit off Skenes was a clean single by Fernando Tatis Jr. in the sixth. Oneil Cruz hit a two-run double and Nick Gonzales added a two-run single as part of a five-run eighth inning for the Pirates.

Why it matters

Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, has struggled early this season but his strong outing against the Padres shows he may be rounding into form. The Pirates have won 6 of their last 7 games and this win keeps them near the top of the NL Central standings.

The details

Skenes struck out six and walked two in 6 1/3 innings, keeping the Padres hitless until the sixth inning when Fernando Tatis Jr. singled. Xander Bogaerts homered off Skenes in the seventh inning, but the Pirates' offense backed up their starter with a five-run eighth inning to pull away.

  • Skenes took a no-hitter into the 6th inning on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • The Pirates won the game 7-1 on April 8, 2026.

The players

Paul Skenes

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Skenes is a 23-year-old starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

The star shortstop for the San Diego Padres, Tatis Jr. broke up Skenes' no-hit bid with a single in the 6th inning.

Xander Bogaerts

The Padres' veteran slugger, Bogaerts hit a solo home run off Skenes in the 7th inning.

Oneil Cruz

The Pirates' young shortstop, Cruz hit a two-run double in the 5th inning to give Pittsburgh the lead.

Nick Gonzales

The Pirates' rookie second baseman, Gonzales added a two-run single in the 8th inning to help seal the win for Pittsburgh.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The series wraps up on Wednesday, with Michael King starting for the Padres against Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller.

The takeaway

Skenes' strong outing against the Padres is a positive sign for the Pirates, as the reigning Cy Young winner looks to regain his dominant form after a rocky start to the season. The Pirates' young core, including Cruz and Gonzales, also contributed to the win, showing the team's promising future.