Tim Benz: Pirates' comeback in Paul Skenes' latest outing should slap Ben Cherington right in the face

Through his first 11 starts as a Pittsburgh Pirate, a lot went right for rookie right-hander Paul Skenes. He was 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA and was named as the National League starter for the All-Star Game.

For a while on Monday night, though, Skenes looked like he was about to be the victim of a second straight 2-1 loss, this time against the Houston Astros.

As was the case at PNC Park last Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals, Skenes got virtually no help from his offense. He’s got to be used to that at this point (as do all of the Pirates starters). In his past three outings, the Pirates have given Skenes a total of just three runs of support before he has exited the game.

Monday night in Houston, however, there were plenty of other forces at work against Skenes — particularly in an ill-fated fifth inning.

• After Jon Singleton led off the frame with a single, Jake Meyers drew a full-count walk on what appeared to be a perfectly spotted four-seam fastball from Skenes that was missed by home plate umpire Todd Tichenor.

• The next batter, Houston catcher Victor Caratini, was barely nicked on his left thigh by a Skenes slider to load the bases.

• After striking out Trey Cabbage, Ke’Bryan Hayes couldn’t come up with a ground ball off the bat of Jose Altuve. Meyers and Singleton scored. It could have resulted in a double play. Instead, it was ruled an error, giving the Astros a 2-0 lead.

Astros strike first! pic.twitter.com/z7Xwhrz21v

— Houston Astros (@astros) July 30, 2024

Ironically, after a pickoff throw from Skenes got away from Rowdy Tellez for an error on the pitcher in the sixth, Hayes turned a sparkling double play to get out of another jam and keep the game within striking distance.

The man does have a Gold Glove. pic.twitter.com/ioI9896Z5h

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 30, 2024

“It was kind of a routine ball. It just took a weird hop on me,” Hayes said after the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh. “The ball is going to keep coming back to you. For me, it (stinks) because two runs came in. I was pretty (ticked) off. But there’s still more game to play. So you’ve just got to be ready for the next one.”

Fortunately for the Pirates, that was just enough to keep them in it, and the offense finally woke up late in the game. An eighth-inning RBI from Oneil Cruz, a ninth-inning homer from Michael A. Taylor, and a somewhat shaky save from David Bednar gave the Pirates a 5-3 comeback victory.

Oneil Cruz just keeps hitting. pic.twitter.com/ed1NuuThzI

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 30, 2024

OH MY, MICHAEL A. TAYLOR ???? pic.twitter.com/8nJtpGfmaB

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 30, 2024

Granted, Skenes wasn’t as crisp as he had been for most of his starts since getting called up in May. He struggled to put batters away at times, working deep into some counts and running up a pitch count of 101 over six innings. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed five hits and a season-high three walks.

“There were a lot of opportunities that I missed,” Skenes said after the game. “A couple of two-strike hits. I had a few strikeouts (six). I could’ve had a couple more.”

That said, the Bucs narrowly avoided a fourth loss since June 17 with Skenes pitching. The only wins since then had been a fluke 14-2 explosion against the New York Mets, and a 1-0 Skenes masterpiece in Milwaukee when he was pulled with a no-hitter going.

For the second time this year.

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If Pirates general manager Ben Cherington ever needed a wake-up call to make a trade of significance before Tuesday’s deadline passes to help this club, the past two games should have provided it.

Twice the Pirates have come back late in games, on the road, against teams currently in the playoff mix. Twice they have done so with the offense giving the team squat until after the seventh-inning stretch.

Not to mention that Joshua Palacios and Ji Hwan Bae both left the game in Houston on Monday due to injury. That’s on top of teammates such as Nick Gonzales and Jared Jones already being on the shelf, and Bailey Falter who just came off the IL Monday.

“I’m just really proud of the group,” manager Derek Shelton said after the win. “The two back-to-back comebacks. The injuries today. The fact that it is at the deadline. I don’t know. Maybe it’s a full moon. It’s a little different.”

Right now, this Pirates team is just good enough to stay on the fringes of playoff contention through August. It’s not good enough to avoid fading late without some offensive help.

Boston minor leaguer Nick Yorke and Colorado bullpen arm Jalen Beeks, both of whom were acquired Monday, aren’t enough. If Cherington thinks they are, he is dead wrong.

As he is if he thinks typical late-summer Pittsburgh media disinterest in the franchise will allow inactivity to settle quietly in the shadows with the fanbase.

Skenes’ presence alone has made that an impossibility.

The recent MLB playoff format changes, and the reality of the standings should, as well. With 56 games remaining, the Pirates (54-52) are tied with the St. Louis Cardinals just two back of the final wild-card spot, with two teams (San Diego and Arizona) to pass.

It’s worth trying, Ben. Get a real bat or two.

If not for a pennant race, then at least to give your franchise pitcher a fighting chance.

Listen: Tim Benz interviews the Boston Globe’s Alex Speier about the Pirates-Red Sox trade that saw Pittsburgh ship Quinn Priester to Boston for Nick Yorke.