Paul Skenes Near-Perfect in 6-0 Pirates Win

Sport

By lines

April 25, 2026

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Paul Skenes took a perfect game into the seventh inning on Friday night. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace retired 20 consecutive Milwaukee Brewers hitters. Jake Bauers ended the bid with a 105.5 mph single up the middle in the seventh inning.

Skenes Carries Cy Young Form Into Near-Perfect Masterpiece

Skenes had Bauers down 1-2 before the Milwaukee first baseman worked the count full. Bauers fouled off two pitches, then lined a single up the middle. Skenes completed the inning on a flyout from Tyler Black. Skenes threw 7 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, and 7 strikeouts on 93 pitches.

Skenes holds a 0.95 ERA in five post-Opening Day starts. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner struck out 29 batters across 28.1 innings during that stretch. Skenes allowed 10 hits in those five outings and carries a career ERA of 2.01.

Konnor Griffin provided the offensive highlight in the 6-0 win. Griffin, the Pirates’ top prospect, homered for the first time in his major league career on his 20th birthday. Pittsburgh improved to 15-11 in the National League Central standings. Milwaukee dropped to 13-12 and sits fifth in the division.

The last MLB perfect game was Domingo German’s outing for the New York Yankees on June 28, 2023. The Pittsburgh Pirates franchise dates to 1882 and has never recorded a perfect game in franchise history.