Skenes reaches 200 strikeouts as Pirates secure first non-losing season since 2018

Pittsburgh will finish 2026 without a losing record. Spencer Horwitz lifted a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning Thursday, the Pirates held on to beat St. Louis 2-1, and their record rose to 81-78 with three games left. The official MLB box score confirms the final. It is the first Pittsburgh season guaranteed to finish at least .500 since 2018.

The winning run came from a messy Cardinals sequence. Ronny Simon walked against Ryne Stanek, moved to second on a wild pitch, then took third when catcher Ivan Herrera's throw went into center field. Horwitz sent a fly ball deep enough for Simon to score. MLB's video of the sacrifice fly shows the contact that turned the eighth-inning opportunity into the lead. Pittsburgh needed no second hit in the inning to move in front.

Paul Skenes had made that late chance matter. In his 32nd and final start of the regular season, he allowed one run on three hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings. The official box credits him with eight strikeouts, including his 200th of the season. Watch that milestone strikeout from the seventh inning. Alec Burleson's first-inning solo homer was the only run Skenes permitted.

Skenes left to an ovation after reaching 200 strikeouts for the second consecutive year. The Associated Press game report notes that only one other pitcher in the Pirates' long history had reached that mark in back-to-back seasons. This year's 3.82 ERA and 10-11 record fell short of the standard he set as the reigning NL Cy Young winner, but his last outing gave the club a chance to secure its team milestone. The AP text lists six strikeouts for this game; MLB's official box and same-game highlight record eight, the figure used here.

The Pirates finished the game with three relievers. Luke Weaver got the final out of the eighth, and Mason Montgomery struck out the side in the ninth for his 17th save. Pittsburgh had already matched St. Louis at 1-1 on a Brandon Lowe RBI single before the deciding eighth. The final innings showed a club capable of defending a narrow lead, which was enough on this afternoon.

Pittsburgh heads to Detroit for its final three games. St. Louis, now 77-82, closes at Milwaukee. The Pirates can still add to their win total, but the line they crossed Thursday is fixed: after seven straight losing seasons, they will not have another one in 2026.