Pirates beat the Cardinals 2-1 to secure their first non-losing season
since 2018
[September 25, 2026]
By WILL GRAVES
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ronny Simon raced home on Spencer
Horwitz's eighth inning sacrifice fly and the Pittsburgh Pirates assured
themselves of the club's first non-losing season in eight years with a
2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.
Simon reached on a walk by Ryne Stanek (2-3), advanced
to second on a wild pitch and scooted to third when the throw from
catcher Ivan Herrera skipped into center field for an error. Horwitz's
flyball to center was plenty deep enough for Simon to score. |
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes collects himself on the mound
after giving up a solo home run to St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson
during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday,
Sept. 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) |
|
Luke Weaver (4-1) got the final out of the eighth for
Pittsburgh. Mason Montgomery struck out the side in the ninth
for his 17th save in 19 chances as Pittsburgh improved to 81-78
with three games to go. The club's previous non-losing season
came in 2018 when it won 82 games.
Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes ended an uneven
year by his standards with 6 1/3 excellent innings in his 32nd
and final start.
The 24-year-old, whose performance this year has been met with
mild criticism locally, allowed one run, three hits and two
walks and six strikeouts. He received a loud ovation when he was
removed by manager Don Kelly after recording his 200th strikeout
of the season when Cardinals designated hitter Leo Bernal was
caught looking leading off the seventh.
Skenes became just the second pitcher in the franchise's
145-year history to reach 200 strikeouts in consecutive seasons.
He finished 10-11 with a 3.82 ERA, nearly double the MLB-leading
1.97 ERA he posted in 2025.
St. Louis fell to 77-82, assured of consecutive losing seasons
for the first time since the shortened 1994 and 1995 seasons.
Alec Burleson hit his 24th homer of the season in the first
inning for the Cardinals.
Up next
The Cardinals wrap up the season with a three-game set at NL
Central champion Milwaukee while Pittsburgh heads to Detroit to
face the Tigers.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
|
|
