Yasmani Grandal of the Pittsburgh Pirates circles the bases after hitting a home run in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners on Friday in Pittsburgh. AP Photo
PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes struck out six players to end a four-start winless streak. The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a 10-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
Skenes (7-2), who was 0-2 in his previous starts, allowed three hits and walked a career-high four in six innings in his first win since July 11. That win came in the 22-year-old right-hander’s final appearance before starting for the National League in the All-Star Game five days later.
David Bednar survived a rocky ninth inning to earn his 21st save. Jorge Polanco hit a home run to start the inning, cutting the Mariners’ lead to 5-3. Luke Raley followed with a single before Bednar struck out the final three batters.
Bednar, a two-time All-Star, has two losses and two blown saves in his last three appearances.
Logan Gilbert (7-9) suffered the loss after allowing four runs, three earned runs and five hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 6 1/3 innings, marking only the seventh time in 26 appearances this season that he has had a poor start.
The Mariners lost their fourth straight game after falling to Detroit in a three-game set. Seattle entered the game three games behind first-place Houston in the American League West and 3 ½ games behind the third wild card.
Yasmani Grandal hit his second home run of the season during a two-run fifth inning that put the Pirates ahead for good, 3-2. Grandal’s hit tied the game. Then Michael A. Taylor hit a single, stole second base and ran to third base on a throwing error by catcher Cal Raleigh before scoring on Andrew McCutchen’s sacrifice fly.
Oneil Cruz’s two-run double off the glove of diving right fielder Dominic Canzone gave the Pirates a three-run lead.
McCutchen and Cruz were injured while baserunning in the seventh inning and were taken out of the game. McCutchen suffered from soreness in his left knee and Cruz suffered from soreness in his left ankle.
Raley’s two-run home run in the fourth inning against Skenes opened the scoring. Raley’s 15th home run was a 412-footer that cleared the right-center field bleachers.
The Pirates were able to halve the deficit in the fourth inning with a double from Isiah Kiner-Falefa, which earned them a run.
TRAINING ROOM
Mariners: CF Julio Rodriguez (sore right ankle) returned to the lineup as DH after sitting out Thursday’s loss at Detroit and was 2 for 4.
Pirates RHP Colin Holderman (sprained right wrist) had a 25-pitch bullpen session before the game. He has been out since Aug. 8.
Next
Mariners RHP Luis Castillo (10-11, 3.40) pitches today against LHP Bailey Falter (5-7, 4.07). Castillo has pitched at least six innings in his last seven starts, going 4-2 with a 2.27 ERA.
