Paul Skenes' gem propels Pirates past Marlins

Rookie right-hander Paul Skenes allowed one run on six hits over six innings to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 win over the visiting Miami Marlins on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series.

Skenes (10-2) struck out nine and walked one in his 20th start of the season. He lowered his ERA to 2.10 while continuing to build his resume for National League Rookie of the Year.

Colin Holderman pitched a perfect seventh inning, Dennis Santana did the same in the eighth and Aroldis Chapman gave up a run in the ninth before notching his seventh save of the season.

Oneil Cruz homered, Andrew McCutchen had two hits and Bryan Reynolds drove in two runs for the Pirates (68-76), who have won two in a row overall and five straight against Miami this season.

Marlins starter Valente Bellozo (2-3) was tagged for three runs (one earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. The rookie right-hander struck out two and walked one in his 10th career major league start.

Xavier Edwards, Otto Lopez and Jesus Sanchez had two hits apiece for the Marlins (54-90), who were trying to win three in a row for the first time since June 18-21.

Bellozo retired the first two batters in the bottom of the first before Cruz blasted a two-strike fastball 444 feet to straightaway center for his 19th homer of the season and an early 1-0 lead.

Bellozo retired the first two batters in the second, too, but a throwing error by Edwards at shortstop kept the inning alive. Nick Gonzales followed with a single to left and advanced to second on the play, and Reynolds brought home two runs with a single to right, extending the lead to 3-0.

The Marlins cut the deficit to 3-1 in the fourth when Lopez lined a single through the hole on the right side and Sanchez scored from second standing up after right fielder Bryan De La Cruz bobbled the ball.

Cristian Pache delivered an RBI double with two outs in the ninth for Miami to make it 3-2, but Chapman got Nick Fortes to fly out to right with the tying run on third and the go-ahead run at second.

--Field Level Media