Skenes & Pirates Beat Reds To Take Series

CINCINNATI (AP) — Oneil Cruz had a three-run homer, his third in two games, Paul Skenes allowed one run in five innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 to take the three-game series. Eugenio Suárez had a pinch-hit, two-run shot in the sixth inning for the Reds. Cruz then connected on a 2-1 curveball that was over the bottom part of the plate and drove it 407 feet over the wall in right field. Skenes returned to his All-Star form after giving up five runs in two-thirds of an inning in last Thursday’s opener against the New York Mets. The reigning NL Cy Young winner allowed three hits, walked two and struck out five.