Pittsburgh Pirates Defeat San Diego Padres 7-1

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Diego Padres 7-1 on April 7, 2026, led by a dominant performance from reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes.

Skenes kept the Padres hitless through the first five innings of the game. He pitched 6 1/3 innings, recording six strikeouts and walking two batters. The victory improved Skenes’ record to 2-1 and lowered his ERA to 5.54.

Skenes’ Performance and the Padres’ Response

The Padres’ first hit against the 23-year-old pitcher occurred in the sixth inning when Fernando Tatis Jr. Hit a single to left field with one out.

In the seventh inning, Xander Bogaerts hit a home run off Skenes with one out. This was the first home run allowed by a Pittsburgh starter during the current season.

Skenes exited the game to a loud ovation from a crowd of 9,061 attendees. Skenes and three relief pitchers combined to limit San Diego to three hits over the course of the game.

Pirates Offensive Rallies

Pittsburgh’s offense began to pull away in the fifth inning. Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin recorded an infield single and subsequently scored from first base on a two-run double by Oneil Cruz.

The Pirates extended their lead in the eighth inning with a five-run rally. Nick Gonzales contributed a two-run single to start the scoring in that inning.

Griffin continued his performance in the eighth by hitting a line drive to center for a two-run single. These plays marked the second and third hits of the 19-year-old’s major league career.

Rookie Development and Team Standing

The performance by Griffin occurred shortly after Pirates general manager Ben Cherington stated that some of the ingredients for a long-term contract for the rookie were in place.

With the win on April 7, 2026, the Pirates have won six of their last seven games.

San Diego Pitching and Next Matchup

San Diego starter Nick Pivetta was dominant through the first four innings. He finished the game with a record of 1-2, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk. Pivetta recorded a season-high eight strikeouts.

The series between the two teams concludes on April 8, 2026. The Padres will start Michael King, who holds a 0-1 record and a 3.38 ERA. He will face Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller, who is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA.