PITTSBURGH — — Rookie Paul Skenes lost for the first time in 12 career major league starts, giving up Alec Burleson’s tiebreaking single in the ninth inning that lifted the St. Louis Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Taking the mound for the first time since starting for the National League in last week’s All-Star Game, the 22-year-old right-hander pitched past the seventh inning for the first time in the major leagues but lost for the first time in 24 professional appearances.
Nolan Arenado put St. Louis ahead with a fifth-inning home run on a first-pitch curveball, and Nick Gonzales tied the score with an RBI single in the eighth off JoJo Romero.
Michael Siani doubled down the left-field line on a 1-2 fastball leading off. He was called out at second by umpire Sean Barber, but a video review showed Siani’s left hand slapped the base before Gonzales’ tag following the throw from left fielder Bryan Reynolds.
Siani took third on Masyn Winn’s groundout and scored when Burleson lined an 0-2 fastball into right on Skenes’ 104th and final pitch.
Skenes (6-1) allowed two runs and four hits in 8 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts and no walks as his ERA rose to 1.93 from 1.90.
Ryan Fernandez got the win in relief, Ryan Helsley struck out the side in the ninth and notched his 33rd save.
Starter Lance Lynn worked five innings, allowing no runs on four hits.
A day game to finish the series Wednesday, Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 4.15) starts for the Cardinals, 10:40 with the pregame and the first pitch at 11:35 on KIRX.