Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes reacts after watching catcher Henry Davis tag out St. Louis Cardinals' Willson Contreras at home during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Catcher Henry Davis drove in the game’s only run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning and preserved the lead with a tag at the plate in the ninth, giving Pittsburgh a 1-0 win over St. Louis Cardinals 1-0 on Tuesday night as Pirates ace Paul Skenes’ winless streak reached six starts.

Pittsburgh’s Ke’Bryan Hayes led off the bottom of the eighth with a single off Phil Maton (1-3). Pinch-hitter Adam Frazier doubled to right and Hayes scored on Davis’ fly ball to center.

St. Louis had runners on second and third with one out in the ninth when Victor Scott hit a slow chopper that first baseman Spencer Horwitz fielded and threw to Davis, who tagged Jose Fermin at the plate.

Skenes pitched five scoreless innings and allowed five hits and one walk and struck out five while throwing 88 pitches. Skenes, who is 4-7 with a 2.03 ERA, has not won since May 28 at Arizona and is winless in six starts against the Cardinals.

The loss spoiled a strong outing by Cardinals starter Andre Pallante, who pitched seven innings of one-hit ball. He struck out three and walked two, and his only hit allowed was a single by Andrew McCutchen in the fourth.

Issac Mattson (2-0) pitched one inning for the win, and David Bednar picked up his 12th save in as many chances this season as Pittsburgh won its fifth straight.

Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras sustained a left-hand contusion in the fourth inning on a tag play at home plate and left the game. Third baseman Nolan Arenado missed the game because of a jammed right index finger.

Up next

Cardinals RHP Sonny Gray (8-2, 3.36 ERA) faces Mitch Keller (2-10, 3.90) on Wednesday as the Pirates go for the series sweep.