Pittsburgh Pirates at Cleveland Guardians

Paul Skenes entered Sunday’s start as well rested as he’ll be in season. Skenes hadn’t pitched in a week and took full days off on Monday and Tuesday while participating in All-Star festivities. Recharged for the second half, Skenes twirled his best start of the summer. The 24-year-old ace allowed one run in seven innings while striking out eight on 100 pitches in the Pirates’ 7-1 series-clinching victory over the Guardians at Progressive Field. Skenes went the deepest into a game since May 12 (vs. Colorado), and became Pittsburgh’s first starter since Braxton Ashcraft on May 21 to go at least seven innings. “Got some early outs, that helps,” Skenes said. “Not a ton of long at-bats. It's just that's pretty much what it adds up to. If you can get early outs and avoid the nine- or 10-pitch at-bats, it's a pretty good equation \[to\