Pirates edge Giants in 13-12 slugfest with 35 combined hits
In a game expected to feature aces Paul Skenes and Logan Webb, both starters were knocked out early as the Pirates and Giants combined for 35 hits and 25 runs. Pittsburgh won on a fielding error that allowed Brandon Lowe to score the decisive run in the bottom of the ninth. Only two home runs were hit in the contest.
The pitching matchup collapsed almost immediately, with Logan Webb chased during a nine-run second inning that ballooned his ERA to 4.21, his worst mark since becoming a full-time starter in 2021. Paul Skenes fared only marginally better, exiting in the fifth inning after allowing five runs, pushing his ERA to 3.97. San Francisco built an 11-5 lead by the fourth inning, but Pittsburgh chipped away despite hitting just one home run all night. The decisive moment came not on a hit but on Osleivis Basabe's fielding error, which let Brandon Lowe race home in the bottom of the ninth. The 35 combined hits and 25 runs made this one of the season's most explosive offensive contests, even with only two total home runs.
Games like this could reshape how fans and analysts evaluate starting pitching, as two elite arms were rendered irrelevant by relentless contact hitting. It may reinforce a growing narrative that even Cy Young-caliber pitchers are vulnerable in today's offensive environment, potentially influencing how teams manage bullpens and starter workloads. For casual viewers, the high-scoring, error-decided finish offers a reminder that baseball's unpredictability remains its greatest draw, though purists might worry about the devaluation of pitching excellence.