PITTSBURGH — In a broadcast tainted by disappointment for Pittsburgh fans, Cleveland’s Kyle Manzardo made an impactful appearance on Saturday during the Guardians’ 3-0 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Manzardo opened the seventh inning with a bang, launching a solo home run on the first pitch he faced from Paul Skenes over the outfield at the Pirates’ home stadium. This home run, his fifth of the season, traveled 411 feet and made a splash into the Allegheny River.
Cleveland’s offense benefitted from contributions by Steven Kwan, who recorded two hits including an RBI single against Skenes in the third inning. Nolan Jones also added to the Guardians’ tally with a pair of hits.
On the defensive side, Ben Lively (1-2) combined efforts with four other relievers to limit the Pirates to six hits, while Emmanuel Clase closed the game effectively by securing his fourth save.
Paul Skenes, starting on a short four-day rest for the first time this season, delivered a strong performance through seven innings. The young pitcher, who recently earned the title of National League Rookie of the Year, allowed two runs on six hits, walking one and striking out four. Despite his efforts, his strikeouts were his lowest in any start where he went more than six innings.
What was set to be a day of excitement with high anticipation for Skenes’ bobblehead giveaway at PNC Park turned into disappointment for Pirates fans. With the gates opening to bustling crowds five hours before kickoff, the demand for the coveted item exceeded expectations. Pittsburgh’s management eventually decided to extend the giveaway to everyone in the sold-out crowd of 37,713 enthusiasts.
The goodwill evaporated swiftly by the ninth inning. When Enmanuel Valdez was tagged out sliding past third base while attempting to turn a double into a triple, a restless, frustrated chant of “sell the team” echoed from the stands, reflecting the local supporters’ frustration due to Pittsburgh’s rough 8-13 season start.
One pivotal point unfolded in the top of the sixth inning with two runners aboard and one out, as Cleveland’s relief pitcher Cade Smith entered the game. Although Smith walked Enmanuel Valdez, he managed to induce a ground double play from Tommy Pham, effectively shutting down the Pirates’ scoring opportunity.
A significant highlight from this game was Skenes achieving 200 career strikeouts in 28 starts, matching a club record for the fewest games needed to reach such a milestone.
The series is set to conclude Sunday, with Cleveland tapping Logan Allen (1-1, 2.30 ERA) for the start against Mitch Keller (1-2, 4.30 ERA) of the Pirates.