Paul Skenes and the Pirates score a clean sheet against the Cubs

Jared Triolo hit a three-run home run and rookie Paul Skenes threw five scoreless innings to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh’s Rowdy Tellez had an RBI single and Andrew McCutchen added a sacrifice fly. Nick Gonzalez contributed two of the eight hits for the Pirates (65-73), who recorded their third win in the last four games.

Skenes (9-2) managed four hits and four walks and struck out six players before retiring after 100 pitches. In four starts against the Cubs this season, he improved his record to 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA.

Colin Holderman, in his first appearance since returning from the injured list, retired the team in the correct order in the sixth inning. Carmen Mlodzinski struck out two batters in two scoreless innings, closing the gap on David Bednar, who retired the team in the correct order in a no-save situation in the ninth inning.

The Cubs (71-68) managed just five hits and failed to score 10 times, losing for the second straight game on the way to a season-high six straight wins.

Pittsburgh scored two runs in the third inning to open the scoring.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a single against Kyle Hendricks, moved to second base on a single by Bryan Reynolds and advanced to third on a fielder’s decision by Oneil Cruz. McCutchen’s sacrifice fly to center field brought Kiner-Falefa home.

Tellez followed with an RBI single to right field that scored Cruz and gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead.

Triolo gave Pittsburgh some breathing room in the seventh inning after he hit an 0-1 sweeper by Tyson Miller over the left-field wall. The home run was Triolo’s seventh of the season and first since August 19.

Reynolds made a diving catch off the ivy in left-center field, thwarting Seiya Suzuki’s attempt to gain extra bases to begin the fifth inning.

Hendricks (3-11) extended his winless streak to five starts, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings, with five strikeouts and one walk.

–Field level media