The Pittsburgh Pirates (2-5) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (4-2) 4-2 on Wednesday afternoon. The win avoided a sweep for the Pirates, who dropped the first two games of the series to the Rays.
Pirates sensation Paul Skenes (1-0, 1.46) allowed just one unearned run on three hits in seven innings of work for the Pirates, striking out six and walking none. He out-dueled Ryan Pepiot (0-1, 2.45) who allowed two earned runs on five hits in five innings of work while striking out three and walking three.
The Pirates got on the board thanks to a RBI single from Adam Fraizer in the second, before Oniel Cruz hit a homer in the fifth to make it 2-0. The Rays got on the board with a RBI groundout in the sixth inning to pull within 2-1.
Endy Rodriguez gave the Pirates a 3-1 lead with a RBI single in the eighth inning, before Jonny DeLuca hit a RBI single in the eighth to make it 3-2. Oniel Cruz hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth to make it a 4-2 final score.
The Rays are now off on Thursday before heading to Texas to begin a three-game series against the Rangers on Friday night. Zack Littell (0-1, 1.50) is scheduled to get his second start for the Rays on Friday night. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 8:10 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting the Inside Pitch at 7:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES