PITTSBURGH — — Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes was knocked around by the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night, allowing a career-high five runs in a 5-3 loss at frigid PNC Park.
Skenes (1-1), who was electric in his first two starts this season, was spotty this time around. The 22-year-old reigning National League Rookie of the Year allowed six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts as his ERA more than doubled from 1.46 to 3.44.
Victor Scott II had two hits, including a two-run triple off Skenes in the third. Brendan Donovan had two hits for St. Louis and followed Scott’s first-career three-base hit with an RBI single that put the Cardinals up 3-0.
Sonny Gray (2-0) breezed through five innings for St. Louis, surrendering just one run and three hits.
Phil Maton picked up his first save when he got Tommy Pham to line out to right to end it as the Cardinals won for just the second time in eight games.
The series continues on Wednesday with a day game. Mitch Keller (1-1, 7.45 ERA) starts for Pittsburgh against Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde (1-1, 7.00), 10:40 with the pregame and the first pitch at 11:35 on KIRX.