Full Breakdown
Paul Skenes’ Near-Perfect Game Stifles Brewers in 6-0 Pirates Victory
4/25/2026, 1:51:52 PM
Near-Perfect Performance
On April 24, 2026, Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes carried a perfect game into the seventh inning of a 6-0 win at American Family Field. He retired the first 20 batters before a two-out ground-ball single by Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers ended the bid. Skenes finished with seven innings, one hit, no runs, no walks and seven strikeouts.
Historical Context and Skenes’ Early Career
The 23-year-old is the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, a former Rookie-of-the-Year and two-time All-Star starter. In 61 career starts he holds a 2.01 ERA with 416 strikeouts over 349 2/3 innings. The Pirates have never recorded an individual no-hitter since John Candelaria’s on Aug. 9, 1976; the last combined no-hitter came in 1997. Skenes joins only eight pitchers since 1916 who have logged 50+ starts while maintaining a sub-2.00 ERA.
Key Players and Contributions
- Paul Skenes – dominant outing, 98 mph fastball and splitter.
- Jake Bauers – broke the perfect-game bid with a single.
- Konnor Griffin – hit his first major-league home run and later added a two-run single.
- Garrett Mitchell – Brewers outfielder, praised Skenes’ effort.
- Pat Murphy – Pirates manager, highlighted Skenes’ command and pitch mix.
- Brewers manager – called Skenes’ performance “the best I’ve seen from anyone.”
Game Statistics
- Skenes line: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K.
- Pirates offense: 6 runs (solo HR, two-run single, RBI single).
- Brewers misc.: Brice Turang walked with two outs in the ninth; defensive miscues included a throwing error by David Hamilton and a fumble by Bauers that led to a two-run single by Griffin.
- Team records after game: Pirates 15-11 (per CBS Sports) or 14-10 (per BrewCrewball); Brewers 13-11 (CBS) or 13-12 (BrewCrewball).
Impact and Significance
Skenes’ near-perfect game marks the closest the Pirates have come to a perfect outing since Harvey Haddix’s 12-inning effort in 1959. The performance reinforces his status as a generational talent and fuels speculation that the Pirates could be contenders in the NL Central as early as 2026. It also underscores the rarity of a team facing back-to-back Cy Young winners (Skenes after AL winner Tarik Skubal).
Official Statements & Responses
Pirates manager Pat Murphy noted that Skenes “has so many ways of doing it… his command, that’s what it’s about,” emphasizing the pitcher’s varied repertoire and precise location. The Brewers manager described the outing as “the best I’ve seen from anyone.” Garrett Mitchell added that “baseball’s very difficult,” reflecting the challenge the Brewers faced.
Criticism & Opposition
Brewers’ offense has struggled, hitting only one home run in nine games and lacking power from injured stars Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn and Christian Yelich. Defensive lapses—Hamilton’s throwing error and Bauers’ fumble—contributed to the loss. Managerial adjustments, such as positioning Bauers deeper at first base to accommodate Oneil Cruz’s exit velocity, were cited as insufficient.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Skenes’ win–loss record (3-1 in BrewCrewball vs. 4-1 in CBS Sports) and on the Brewers’ standing (13-11 vs. 13-12). Season ERA figures also vary (2.48 in CBS Sports versus 3.27 in BrewCrewball).
Verbatim Quotes
- “That’s the best I’ve seen from anyone, I think,” — Brewers manager
- “He pitched a hell of a game.” — Garrett Mitchell, outfielder
- “His command, that’s what it’s about,” — Pat Murphy, manager
- “When you’re not doing the small things it’s going to make it difficult when you get to that part of the game where you really got to focus up and make something happen,” — Garrett Mitchell, outfielder
- “Been working super hard behind closed doors to continue to produce. It was fun running around the bases for the first time,” — Konnor Griffin, rookie outfielder
What’s Next
Skenes is scheduled to start against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The Brewers will finish the three-game series on Saturday and Sunday, with starting pitchers Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison respectively.
