Arizona Diamondbacks at Pittsburgh Pirates Game Preview | July 27, 2025

Sunday, July 27th, 2025

In a dominant performance on Sunday, July 27, 2025, the Pittsburgh Pirates shut out the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-0 at PNC Park. Paul Skenes was the star of the afternoon, striking out nine batters and allowing just three hits over six scoreless innings. Offensive contributions came from Oneil Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes, who each drove in two runs, helping the Pirates secure their second consecutive shutout victory over the Diamondbacks.

Pitching Masterclass from Paul Skenes

Paul Skenes (6-8) delivered another exceptional outing for the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Skenes became the first pitcher in MLB history to maintain an ERA below 2 through his first 45 career starts. His career ERA now stands at an impressive 1.89, with his 1.83 ERA this season leading all major league pitchers.

Skenes continued his remarkable streak of not allowing a first-inning run this season, a unique feat among all starting pitchers. He struck out two in the opening frame, including Geraldo Perdomo, who had gone a league-best 39 straight at-bats without a strikeout.

The young ace also demonstrated his ability to pitch out of trouble. In the second inning, Jake McCarthy hit a one-out triple, but Skenes responded by striking out James McCann and retiring Alek Thomas on a popup to short. He later navigated around a leadoff double by Tristin English in the third inning, keeping the Diamondbacks off the scoreboard.

Key Moment: Skenes Escapes Jam

A pivotal moment occurred in the fourth inning when Skenes hit Eugenio Suárez with a 3-2 pitch to lead off the frame. Jake McCarthy then doubled, putting runners on second and third with only one out. Skenes, however, rose to the occasion, striking out James McCann on three pitches and Alek Thomas on six pitches, preserving the shutout and stranding both runners.

Key Stat: Consistent Dominance

Paul Skenes has allowed one run or fewer in 14 of his 22 starts this season, matching his impressive rookie campaign where he achieved the same feat 14 times.

Pirates Offense Supports Shutout

The Pittsburgh Pirates offense provided the necessary support for Skenes' gem. Oneil Cruz walked to lead off the second inning and, with his league-leading 34th stolen base, put himself in scoring position. Tommy Pham then singled to center field on a 1-2 pitch from Zac Gallen, driving in Cruz for the game's first run and a 1-0 lead.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (7-12) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits over six innings. The Diamondbacks struggled offensively throughout the series, scoring just one run in three games, with their lone victory coming in a 1-0, 11-inning shutout on Friday night.

Up Next

Following this game, the Arizona Diamondbacks were scheduled to head to Detroit to begin a series against the Tigers on Monday. The Pittsburgh Pirates were set to continue their homestand, playing next at San Francisco.

In summary

This MLB game on Sunday, July 27, 2025, saw the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-0. Key points from the contest include:

Paul Skenes' dominant pitching performance: 6 shutout innings, 9 strikeouts, 3 hits allowed, maintaining a sub-2.00 ERA through 45 career starts.
Skenes' unique streak: Only MLB starter this season to not allow a first-inning run.
Timely hitting by the Pirates: Oneil Cruz's stolen base setting up a Tommy Pham RBI single, with Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes each contributing two RBIs.
Arizona Diamondbacks' offensive struggles: Managed only one run in the entire three-game series against the Pirates.
Zac Gallen's outing: Allowed 4 runs on 5 hits over 6 innings for the Diamondbacks.

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