PennDOT Reports Decline in Fatal Crashes and Traffic Deaths in 2025 to Reach the Lowest Level on Record

(File Photo of the PennDOT Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) PennDOT announced Friday that the number of people killed in traffic crashes fell to a record low in 2025. 

According to PennDOT, 1,047 people were killed in traffic crashes last year, 80 fewer than in 2024 and the lowest total since record-keeping began in 1928. 

PennDOT reported 109,515 total reportable crashes in 2025, the second-lowest annual total on record behind only 2020, when traffic volumes declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The agency also reported 979 fatal crashes in 2025, down from 1,060 in 2024 and the lowest number ever recorded in Pennsylvania. 

Ashcraft strikes out 11 and Pirates get HRs from O’Hearn and Gonzales to sweep skidding Twins, 9-3

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers against the Minnesota Twins in th first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Braxton Ashcraft struck out 11 in six innings, Ryan O’Hearn and Nick Gonzales homered, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the skidding Minnesota Twins 9-3 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.

Ashcraft (5-2) allowed two runs and five hits with no walks, sending the Twins to their fifth straight defeat.

Brooks Lee had a two-run homer in the sixth and a solo shot in the ninth for Minnesota.

O’Hearn returned from the injured list and hit a leadoff homer in the second his first time up. Jared Triolo singled in Oneil Cruz to make it 2-0.

Gonzales’ two-run homer in the third extended the margin to 4-0.

Mike Paredes replaced Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews (1-3) with one out and runners on second and third in the fifth. Gonzales and Cruz drew back-to-back walks, the latter of which scored Brandon Lowe, and Henry Davis hit a two-run single that capped the Pirates’ five-run inning and made it 9-0.

Matthews gave up seven runs and struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings.

Josh Bell had two hits for Minnesota.

Up next

Twins RHP Joe Ryan (3-3, 2.94 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Monday in the opener of a series against the Chicago White Sox, who hadn’t announced a scheduled starter.

Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (1-6, 4.85 ERA) takes the mound Tuesday against Astros RHP Mike Burrows (3-6, 5.40) to open a three-game set in Houston.

Jake Mangum homers and drives in 2 runs as Pirates hold off Twins 10-9

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum drives in a run with a single off Minnesota Twins pitcher Bailey Ober in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jake Mangum went 3 for 4 with his first homer of the season and a go-ahead RBI single after the Pirates blew a six-run lead as Pittsburgh held off the Minnesota Twins 10-9 on Saturday.

Mangum went deep against Bailey Ober (6-3) in the second inning for the fourth home run of his career. He later tagged Ober with a line drive single in the fifth that scored Konnor Griffin to help the Pirates steady themselves after the Twins erased a massive early deficit. Mangum also contributed defensively, going deep in the gap in left-center to rob Minnesota’s Orlando Arcia of extra bases in the ninth with the tying run on first.

Gregory Soto got the final four outs for his seventh save. Yohan Ramirez (3-2) earned the win in relief after starter Mitch Keller couldn’t hold an early 7-1 lead.

Oneil Cruz hit his 13th home run of the season and second in as many days as the Pirates won for the fifth time in seven games. Spencer Horwitz had two hits for Pittsburgh, including a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first.

Nick Gonzales had three hits for Pittsburgh, which handed former manager Derek Shelton a second consecutive loss in his return to PNC Park since being fired by the Pirates last May early into his sixth season with the club.

Kody Clemens had three of Minnesota’s 12 hits. Josh Bell drove in three runs for the Twins, who have lost five of six.

Ober’s three-game winning streak came to an abrupt end. The right-hander allowed a season-high eight runs (seven earned) on 12 hits. Ober has given up seven homers over his last three starts.

Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe was ejected for the first time in his nine-year career. The two-time All-Star, whose 14 homers lead the team, was tossed by first base umpire Jordan Baker after flying out to left in the fourth inning. Earlier in the at-bat, Lowe attempted to challenge a strike call, but it was not recognized by plate umpire Alex Tosi.

Up next

The series wraps up Sunday. Zebby Matthews (1-2, 2.37 ERA) starts for the Twins against Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.75).

Outbound High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes to Close Nightly in Allegheny County

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that nightly closures of the outbound I-279 and I-579 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in the City of Pittsburgh and Ross Township will occur May 31st-June 4th.

To ensure work zone safety at the Jacks Run Road Bridge, the HOV lanes will close to traffic in the outbound (northbound) direction each night from 7 P.M. until the directional switch is made for the morning rush hour.

The HOV lanes will operate as normal the remainder of the day according to the following schedule:

·       Open in the inbound direction from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM

·       Closed from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

·       Open in the outbound direction from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

I-376 Beaver Valley Expressway Bridge Washing Activities Begin Monday in Beaver County

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that washing activities on various bridges in Vanport, Brighton, and Chippewa townships will begin today, weather permitting. 

Bridge washing operations on several I-376 bridges requiring lane restrictions in both directions will occur between the Chippewa (Exit 31) and Midland (Exit 38B) interchanges from 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. weekdays through mid-June. 
 

Additional restrictions may occur on associated ramps and intersections. 

Route 1016 Harmony Road Slide Repair Begins Monday in Beaver County

(File Photo: Caption for Photo: PennDOT, PSP, PTC, Construction Industry Highlight National Work Zone Awareness Week)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) PennDOT District 11 announced that slide remediation work on Harmony Road (Route 1016) in Daughtery Township will begin today, weather permitting. Slide remediation work will begin at 7 a.m. and it will require an around-the-clock closure of a portion of Harmony Road between Blockhouse Run Road and Goehring Road through late June.  Traffic will be detoured and the detour route can be found below:

Posted Detours

West of the Closure

  • From Harmony Road, turn left onto Blockhouse Run Road
  • Turn right onto Allegheny Street
  • Turn left onto 9th Street
  • Turn left onto Route 18
  • Turn left onto 13th Street
  • 13th Street becomes Sunflower Road
  • Sunflower Road becomes Marion Hill Road
  • Turn left onto Route 68 (Sunflower Road)
  • Turn left onto Tulip Drive
  • Follow Tulip Drive back to Harmony Road
  • End detour

East of the Closure

  • Same detour in the opposite direction

Crews from A. Liberoni, Inc. will conduct the slide repair work.

June brings hot concerts to Pittsburgh

Scott Tady

Chris Stapleton; Morgan Wallen and Lionel Richie; and Beaver County’s own Boom on The Bridge.

Rest assured, there are intriguing concerts to witness this June in Western Pennsylvania.

To help you pick a show or two, here is a concert guide:

 

PAVILION AT STAR LAKE

June 10: MGK

June 14: Mumford & Sons

June 17: Chris Stapleton

June 20: Kid Rock

June 23: Godsmack

June 26: Riley Green

July 3: Jack Johnson; July 17: Motley Crue; July 18: Tim McGraw; July 24: Dave Matthews Band; Aug. 1: “Weird” Al Yankovic; Aug. 2: Ne-Yo & Akon; Aug. 7: Five Finger Death Punch; Aug. 8: Parker McCollum; Aug. 14: Goo Goo Dolls; Aug. 20: Billy Idol; Aug. 24: TLC, Salt-N-Pepa; Aug. 25: Kesha; Aug. 29: Rob Zombie & Marilyn Manson; Sept. 3:  Rufus Du Sol; Sept. 10: $uicide Boy$; Sept. 15: Breaking Benjamin.

Motley Crue launches a summer tour at The Pavilion at Star Lake. (Photo: Ross Halfin)

ACRISURE STADIUM, Pittsburgh

June 5-6: Morgan Wallen

Aug. 29: Bruno Mars.

STAGE AE, Pittsburgh

June 1: Taking Back Sunday

June 10: Mt. Joy

June 13: The Clarks

June 14: Dance Gavin Dance

June 22: Passion Pit

June 23: Young The Giant;

June 24: Trombone Shorty

June 27: Insane Clown Posse

July 8: Ella Mai; July 10: Louis Tomlinson; July 12: Bob Dylan; July 14: Djo; July 23: O.A.R.; July 25: Dirty Heads and 311; Aug. 2: Black Keys; Aug. 14: Todd Rundgren; Aug. 22: Dominic Fike; Sept. 1: Sierra Ferrell; Sept. 18: Black Label Society; Sept. 20: Tucker Whitmore; Sept. 22: Sam Barber; Sept. 23: Rainbow Kitten Surprise; Sept. 25: Caamp; Sept. 29: MUNA; Oct. 6: Interpol; Oct. 10: Sugar; Oct. 6: Interpol; Oct. 20: Jesse Welles; Nov. 18: Beartooth.

PPG PAINTS ARENA, Pittsburgh

June 11: 5 Seconds of Summer

June 16: Megan Moroney

June 23: Alex Warren

June 30: Lionel Richie with Earth, Wind & Fire

July 7: Benson Boone; July 11: July 30-31: Nate Bargatze; Aug. 13: Zac Brown Band; Aug. 20: Zach Top; Sept. 8: Kacey Musgraves; Sept. 29-30: Olivia Rodrigo; Oct. 1: Red Clay Strays; Oct. 6: Smashing Pumpkins; Oct. 9: Dan + Shay; Oct. 28:  “Worlds Collide Concert Tour” featuring stars from the “Descendants,”  “ZOMBIES” and “Camp Rock” films; Nov. 7: Jim Gaffigan; Nov. 12: Sombr; Dec. 21: Andre Bocelli.

THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL, Arts Landing, Pittsburgh

June 5: Spin Doctors

June 6: The Pharcyde

June 7: Trousdale

June 11: Buffalo Rose

June 12: The War and Treaty

June 13: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra

June 14: Joan Osborne.

HARTWOOD ACRES, Hampton Township

June 28: Tito Puente Jr.

July 12: The Fixx

July 19: Cyril Neville

July 26: Arrested Development

Aug. 2: The Wood Brothers

Aug. 9: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

Aug. 16: The Lemon Twigs

Aug. 30: Blasey does the Beatles

Sept. 6: Buzz Poets

SOUTH PARK AMPHITHEATER, South Park Township

June 12: Jimmie Ross & The Jaggerz

June 19: Coltt Winter Lepley

June 26: Red Wanting Blue

July 10: The Heavy Heavy

July 17: Orleans

July 24: Ruthie Foster

July 31: Don McLean

Sept. 4: Reb Beach

JERGEL’S RHYTHM GRILLE, Warrendale

June 4: Cold

June 9: Jackrabbit with Dermot Mulroney

June 13: Devon Allman Blues Summit

June 22: Ana Popovic

June 24: Whey Jennings

July 5: Quiet Riot; July 9: Mike Tramp of White Lion; July 12: Chris Kirkpatrick, O-Town, LFO, BBMak and Ryan Cabrera; July 13: Robert Jon & The Wreck; July 30: Tiffany; Aug. 1: Everclear; Aug. 8: Buzz Poets; Aug. 10: Adrian Vandenberg; Aug. 25: Ugly Kid Joe; Sept. 16-17: Leonid & Friends; Sept. 28: Pure Prairie League; Oct. 4: Stryper; Oct. 8: Here Come The Mummies; Oct. 14: Tab Benoit; Nov. 6: Max Weinberg’s Jukebox.

CARNEGIE OF HOMESTEAD MUSIC HALL, Munhall

June 3: Robert Earl Keen

June 7: Napoleon Dynamite – A Conversation with “Napoleon Dynamite’s” Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, & Jon Gries

June 9: Ben Folds

June 13: The Rascals

June 19: Patton Oswalt

June 27: Christopher Cross

July 6: The Church; July 11: Taj Mahal; July 18: Mike Campbell & The Dirty Knobs; July 30: Amy Grant; Aug. 11: Psychedelic Furs; Oct. 9: Marc Maron; Oct. 13: Bruce Hornsby; Nov. 4: Judy Collins.

PETERSEN EVENTS CENTER, Pittsburgh

June 7: Teddy Swims

Aug. 21: Koe Wetzel; Sept. 17: Phil Wickham; Oct. 9: Johnny Blue Skies.

HEINZ HALL, Pittsburgh

June 2: St. Vincent with the PSO

July 3: Derek Hough; July 22: Harry Connick Jr.; Oct. 6: Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra; Oct. 13: Penn & Teller; Dec. 8: Leslie Odom Jr.

CITY WINERY PITTSBURGH

June 7: Tyler Hilton & Kate Voegele: Celebrating the Music of “One Tree Hill”

June 14: Rita Wilson

July 7: “Mob Wives: The Sit Down Tour”; July 14: Shawn Mullins; Sept. 23: Ron Pope; Nov. 14: Joshua Radin

ROXIAN THEATRE @ CITIZENS, McKees Rocks

June 3: Corinne Bailey Rae

June 8: Shakey Graves

June 9: Coheed & Cambria

June 16: Jinjer

June 25: String Cheese Incident

July 16: Trampled by Turtles; July 18: Steve Byrne and Joey Fatone; July 21: Bloc Party; Aug. 12: Courtney Barrett; Sept. 27: Buffalo Traffic Jam; Sept. 29: Public Image Limited; Nov. 28: Punchline; Dec. 6: GWAR

PALACE THEATRE, Greensburg

June 5: Cinderella’s Tom Keifer

June 20: Foghat

July 22: Stewart Copeland; July 23: Air Supply; Aug. 2: Richard Marx; Aug. 30: George Thorogood; Sept. 20: LeAnn Rimes; Sept. 23: Celtic Thunder; Sept. 27: Brian Regan; Oct. 2: Robin Trower;  Oct. 15: Micky Dolenz.

BYHAM THEATER, Pittsburgh

June 12: Josh Gates

Oct. 8: Fred Armisan; Oct. 17: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; Nov. 28: Jim Brinkman

TIMBER ROCK AMPHITHEATER, Farmington

June 4: Jamey Johnson

June 12: Niko Moon

June 19: Brantley Gilbert

June 20: Umphrey’s McGee and moe.

July 17: Blackberry Smoke; July 31: Jeff Foxworthy; Aug. 22: Dylan Scott; Aug. 28: Travis Tritt; Sept. 11: Ted Nugent.

MR. SMALLS THEATRE, Millvale

June 2: Built to Spill

June 22: Kurt Vile

July 30: Cat Power; Aug. 16: The Mountain Goats; Sept. 19: Frank Turner; Sept. 26: Ben Harper; Oct. 22: Low Cut Connie

RIVERS CASINO, Pittsburgh

June 19: Theresa Caputo

July 17: July 18: Steve Byrne and Joey Fatone; Sept. 11: Colin Jost.

Theresa Caputo will entertain at the Rivers Casino.

THUNDERBIRD CAFE, Pittsburgh

June 14: North Mississippi All Stars

June 23: S.G. Goodman

Aug. 19: American Aquarium; Nov. 14: Michigander

OAKS THEATER, Oakmont

June 18: Shane McAnally

July 9: King’s X; Aug. 7: BoDeans.

YOUNGSTOWN FOUNDATION AMPHITHEATER, Youngstown

July 11: Eric Church; Aug. 9: Joe Bonamassa and Gov’t Mule; Sept. 19: Charley Crockett.

CITIZENS LIVE AT THE WYLIE, Pittsburgh

Oct. 2: Wiz Khalifa; Oct. 3: Styx; Oct. 4: Foster The People; Oct. 6: Two Door Cinema; Oct. 7: Freya Skye; Oct. 8: Matt Matthews; Oct. 9: Chelsea Handler; Oct. 10: Modest Mouse; Oct. 11: Chance The Rapper; Oct. 16: Boyz II Men; Oct. 20: Tedeschi Trucks; Oct. 21: The Story So Far; Oct. 23: Smokey Robinson; Oct. 31: Aries Spears; Nov. 2: Glorilla; Nov. 6-7: Sting; Nov. 12: Jack White; Nov. 15: Wyatt Flores; Nov. 19-20: Goose;  Dec. 2: Steven Wilson Jr.; Dec. 3: Sabaton.

Others

June 4: Saving Abel, Crafthouse Grill, Baldwin

June 15: Yellowcard, New Found Glory, Plain White T’s, UPMC Events Center, Moon Township

June 27: Dustin Lynch, Beaver County Boom on The Bridge, Bridgewater.

July 3: Noah Kahan, PNC Park, Pittsburgh

July 10: Jason Aldean, Stambaugh Stadium, Youngstown, Ohio.

Dustin Lynch will headline Beaver County Boom on The Bridge.

Yankee Trader 05-30-26

On 99.3 FM & 1230 AM every Saturday from 10:00-12:00.  Call 724-843-1888. You can email bcr@beavercountyradio.com to add a listing or to let Diane Brosius know if your item has sold. You can also list items on the Website (www.beavercountyradio.com) by clicking on the Yankee Trader logo. Snail mail can be sent to Yankee Trader c/o WBVP/WMBA 4301 Dutch Ridge Rd. Beaver, PA 15009

05-30-26 Listings

Let Diane advertise your Yard/Garage Sale.  She’ll promote it for several weeks ahead of time.  Call, email or write to her with the information.

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From: George                      Phone number: 724-869-4717

Item: Patio lounger ( quality built ) It is wicker brown in color with cushions and pillow. Like new good steel frame work.
Price: Paid 500 dollars will take 275 dollars

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Karen                 Hopewell Twp.           724-601-8804

YARN

4-11 oz. skeins of “Twist Yarn” in baby blue, light tan, dark blue & pink $7 each.

1-17oz. Black  “Twist Yarn” $7

5-7 oz. “Twist Yarn” Sparkle dark blue, sparkle dark gray & more. $5 ea

1-6 oz. “Twist Yarn” $4

Plus a few extras of “I Love This Yarn”, “Red Heart” and “Caron”.

MATERIAL

23 pieces of good quality Fat Quarters.  $3 each

Other fabric including flannel in fall colors

2 ½ inch strips “Jelly Roll” in fall or Christmas fabrics.  $5

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John          724-869-7383

Sears Silvertone Console.  AM FM, turntable.  BEAUTIFUL all-wood piece of furniture.  281/2 in. high X 56 ½ in. wide.  Yours for FREE.  Will need 2 people to pick it up.

Bosch Hammer Drill model RH540M with 2 chisels incl.  Still in box.

$450 OBO

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VAL          (Beaver)            PHONE:  724-513-9390

Paintings & Prints….Art for your home or office décor.  30 pictures, paintings in watercolors, oils and prints   Some are framed, some are not.  PRICE:  Make an offer

Ladies Wilson GOLF Clubs & Bag.  Make an offer

Lenox Fine Bone china in the Eclipse pattern. Pearl color with small black & gold trim on edges-very elegant. 11  5-piece place settings and Noritake China.  12 6-piece place settings with a lovely pattern.

Jewelry, jewelry, jewelry.    At least 200 pieces.  Come & peruse the big variety of rings, broaches, necklaces, earrings, bracelets and more. She has 34 necklaces with individual photos of each that can be texted to you.  Match your outfit or buy a gift.

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Dorothy                 Ambridge               724-266-2752

LTB (looking to buy) a bench or chair to put in her entryway.

Also LTB a grill cover.  Give her a call.

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Rich          Industry             724-643-4389

Decorative Baseball Plates to hang in you home or man-cave.  Authentication papers included. Set of 5 for $35

2 Plastic Chairs.  White, stackable.  Brand new.  $10 for both.

2 folding lawn chairs with carrying bags.  $10 for both.

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Howie                Vanport             724-774-6397

 

Solid Chrome 2 Pen Set in a box.  Will make a great gift.  Best offer

 

Cross Gold plated pen with Chrome pencil set in a box.

Make an offer.

Great assortment of 27” X 40” Vertical hanging decorative flags.  Seasonal, lighthouses & more.  Make an offer

 

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Reynolds hits 2-run homer in 9th to lift the Pirates past the Twins, 6-5

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz, right, is greeted by third base coach Tony Beasley, left, as he rounds third after hitting a solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning — after Oneil Cruz hit a mammoth shot early — to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

Reynolds launched a 422-foot shot to left field off Taylor Rogers (1-2), scoring Tyler Callihan, who replaced Spencer Horwitz after an infield hit to begin the inning.

All the previous scoring came in the first three innings.

Pittsburgh’s Jared Jones struck out Byron Buxton on three straight fastballs that topped 100 mph in his first start in the majors since Sept. 27, 2024.

Kody Clemens hit sixth homer on Jones’ seventh straight pitch above 100 to give the Twins a 1-0 lead. The 24-year-old right-hander missed more than a year after undergoing UCL surgery in 2025. He allowed five runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Twins starter Taj Bradley threw eight straight balls to put Brandon Lowe and Reynolds on base with one out in the first. Nick Gonzales reached on an infield single with Lowe scoring on a throwing error by third baseman Brooks Lee.

Oneil Cruz drove in Reynolds with a grounder to first, and Konnor Griffin followed with a two-out RBI single for a 3-1 advantage.

Tristan Gray tied it 3-3 with a bases-loaded two-run single in the second, and Trevor Larnach followed in the third with his third homer — a 424-foot shot that left the park in right to put the Twins up 5-3.

Cruz hit his 12th home run — a two-out 450-shot that also left the park in right to cut it to 5-4 in the third.

Clemens threw Cruz out at home in the eighth to keep it 5-4 after the Pirates had runners on second and third with nobody out and failed to score.

Wilber Dotel allowed one hit in three innings of relief for Pittsburgh, and Gregory Soto (4-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.

Bradley gave up four runs on five hits in four innings.

Up next

Twins RHP Bailey Ober (6-2, 3.92) was set to start Saturday opposite Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (5-2, 3.64).

Happ homers again and Skenes loses his 3rd straight start as the Cubs sink the Pirates 7-2

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Chicago Cubs’ Ian Happ returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Brandan Bidois during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ian Happ homered for the second consecutive game and the Chicago Cubs handed Paul Skenes his third straight loss with a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

The win came one night after the Cubs ended a 10-game losing streak. Happ hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning of that game.

Happ had three hits on Thursday, including a two-run homer in the eighth that pushed the Cubs’ lead to 5-2. He has reached base safely in 41 consecutive games in Pittsburgh, the city where he grew up. Seiya Suzuki had two hits and two RBIs for Chicago.

Skenes (6-5) lost his third straight start despite striking out 10 in 5 1/3 innings. The 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner fanned six batters in a row from the first to the third.

Only one of the three runs against Skenes was earned, as third baseman Tyler Callihan and shortstop Jared Triolo made throwing errors in a two-run sixth inning that extended the Cubs’ lead to 3-0.

Colin Rea (5-3) won for the first time in five starts, allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. Hoby Milner, Caleb Thielbar and Trent Thornton combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Bryan Reynolds homered for the Pirates.

Pittsburgh third baseman Nick Gonzales exited after the third inning with left knee discomfort.

Up next

Cubs: Open a three-game series Friday night at St. Louis with LHP Shota Imanaga (4-5, 4.04 ERA) facing RHP Andre Pallante (5-4, 3.76).

Pirates: Host the Minnesota Twins and former Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton in a three-game series beginning Friday. Pirates RHP Jared Jones will make his first major league appearance since 2024, a little more than a year after undergoing elbow surgery. RHP Taj Bradley (5-1, 2.77) starts for the Twins.