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MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Paul Skenes had a perfect game into the seventh inning, Konnor Griffin hit his first career home run on his 20th birthday and drove in three runs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-0 on Friday night.
Skenes (4-1), the NL Cy Young winner, didn't allow a base runner until Jake Bauers' sharp single to right with two outs in the seventh. He was vying to become the first pitcher to throw a perfect game in American Family Field, previously known as Miller Park, which opened in 2001. There have been two no-hitters.
Skenes gave up one hit over seven shutout innings. He struck out seven and didn't walk a batter. He threw 93 pitches -- 62 for strikes.
Mason Montgomery and Isaac Mattson completed the one-hitter.
Skenes had another no-hitter close call in Milwaukee on July 11, 2024, when he allowed no hits over seven innings in a 1-0 win. The Brewers' only hit in that game was Bauers' single off Colin Holderman in the eighth.
Griffin hit a solo shot off Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff (2-1) in the third.
Nick Gonzales' run-scoring single in the fourth extended the Pittsburgh lead to 2-0. The Pirates added another run in the fifth on Oneil Cruz's RBI force-out. Ryan O'Hearn doubled and scored on Spencer Horwitz's single as the Pirates lead grew to 4-0 in the sixth.
Griffin's two-run single in the eighth put the Pirates up 6-0.
The Brewers made a series of moves prior to the game, recalling first baseman/outfielder Tyler Black and left-hander Shane Drohan from Triple-A Nashville. They also optioned right-hander Carlos Rodriguez to Nashville and designated outfielder Luis Matos for assignment.
Up next
RHP Mitch Keller (2-1, 2.79 ERA) was set to start for Pittsburgh on Saturday against Jacob Misiorowski (1-2, 3.04).
Guardians win
TORONTO -- Angel Martinez went deep twice for his first career multi-homer game, Daniel Schneemann added the first leadoff homer of his career and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-6 on Friday night.
All three home runs came off Toronto's Max Scherzer (1-3), who allowed seven runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings, his fourth straight winless outing. It's the third time in five starts this season that Scherzer has failed to complete three innings.
Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (4-1) allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings for his fourth win in five starts. He walked two and struck out four.
Hunter Gaddis pitched the seventh, Erik Sabrowski worked the eighth and Cade Smith finished for his sixth save in eight chances.
Martinez capped a five-run first inning with his fourth homer of the season, then chased Scherzer with a one-out drive in the third.
On his second homer, Martinez fouled off the first seven pitches before taking three straight balls, then connected on the 11th pitch of the at-bat.
Martinez struck out in his final two plate appearances, but finished 2 for 4 with four RBIs. It's his second four-RBI game this season and the third of his career.
Kazuma Okamota and Jesus Sanchez hit solo home runs for Toronto, but the Blue Jays couldn't overcome Scherzer's rough start.
Sanchez homered in the first, his third. Okamoto hit a 430-foot drive into the second deck in center in the second, his fourth.
Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes exited in the first inning because of a sore left hamstring. Lukes hit a leadoff double, but walked off following a brief conversation with the trainer and manager John Schneider.
Up next
Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.54 ERA) is expected to start Saturday against Guardians LHP Joey Cantillo (1-0, 3.20).