A Night of Dominance in Cleveland
On Sunday, July 19, the Pittsburgh Pirates secured a 7‑1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians, completing a series win that underscored their rising competitiveness.
Right‑hander Paul Skenes turned in a seven‑inning effort, striking out nine batters while surrendering just one run, marking his first seventh‑inning appearance since May 12.
The offense exploded thanks to a career day from outfielder Billy Cook, who collected three hits — including a triple — and drove in two runs. Cook also made a key defensive play, gunning down a runner at the plate on a potential sacrifice fly.
Veteran slugger Esmerlyn Valdez added a two‑run homer, his 13th career blast, extending his RBI streak to seven games — the longest such run for a Pirate since 2000.
What’s Next for Pittsburgh?
The Pirates now turn their attention to the Bronx, where they will open a two‑game series against the New York Yankees on Monday, July 20. Right‑hander Braxton Ashcraft is slated to oppose lefty Ryan Weathers in the matchup.
With the bullpen bolstered by Valdez’s timely hit and a defense that limited Cleveland’s threats, Pittsburgh looks to carry this momentum into a critical stretch of the schedule, aiming to solidify its position in the National League wild‑card race.