Paul Skenes and Jared Triolo help the Pirates blank the Cubs 5-0

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes throws against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

BC-BBN–Pirates-Cubs, 2nd Ld-Writethru

CHICAGO (AP) — Paul Skenes pitched five effective innings while struggling with his location, and the Pittsburgh Pirates handed the Chicago Cubs another tough loss with a 5-0 victory. Skenes worked out of bases-loaded jams in the first two innings. The rookie right-hander allowed four hits and walked four, but he struck out six. After Skenes departed, Colin Holderman, Carmen Mlodzinski and David Bednar combined for four innings of one-hit ball. Chicago had won six in a row — all on the road — before losing the first two in its three-game series against Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field.