The Milwaukee Brewers could not do anything against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Why?
The Milwaukee Brewers fell victim to a lethal performance by Pittsburgh Pirates' star right-hander Paul Skenes on Friday in a 6-0 shutout loss. Here is what led up to it:
Skenes Dominates
One day after facing the 2025 American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, the Brewers’ lineup had to host Skenes, who won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award by unanimous decision, and he reminded them why he earned the honor.
For most of the evening, Milwaukee’s hitters would make contact, but never reach a base safely. It looked as if Skenes would be heading for a perfect night before giving up a single to Jake Bauers in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Skenes was replaced by reliever Mason Montgomery. He concluded his night with seven strikeouts while allowing only the one hit to Bauers through seven innings of work.
Pittsburgh’s Offense
While the Brewers’ hitters were trying to figure out a way to outwork Skenes, the defense had their hands full with the Pirates’ offense.
Brandon Woodruff got the start for Milwaukee and, after a strong showing in the first and second inning, allowed a solo home run to rookie Konnor Griffin, the first of his career, on his 20th birthday in the top of the third inning to give his team an early lead.
In the top of the fourth, Brandon Lowe led the inning off with a double before Nick Gonzales hit an RBI single to get Lowe across home plate to give Woodruff his second earned run of the evening.
Things would not get easier for Woodruff as he would allow a walk in the top of the fifth before giving up a single to Griffin. Griffin would proceed to steal second base before he later scored on a fielder’s choice to make it a 3-0 game in favor of the Pirates.
Woodruff would get through the remainder of the frame before his evening ended in the sixth inning when he was replaced by Shane Drohan. Woodruff's final line included three strikeouts, five hits, three earned runs and two walks through five innings of work.
Pittsburgh’s Bullpen
Even though Skenes exited in the bottom of the eighth inning, there would be no late-game rally for the Brewers. In fact, the hit Bauers was able to produce to end Skenes’ bid for a perfect game would be the only one Milwaukee would see all night.
Montgomery and closer Isaac Mattson would finish the deal by combining for two innings while striking out two batters and allowing one walk.
The loss is the Brewers’ third in a row as they move to 13-12 through their first 25 games of the season. They will resume action against the Pirates on Saturday at 7:10 p.m.
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