Morning Rundown: Pirates split doubleheader, Carlson Reed throws five shutout innings

Pirates split doubleheader against Tigers, Reed throws five no-hit for Greensboro

Jun 20, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates split their doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, avoiding a sweep.

Tarik Skubal didn’t have his best stuff but allowed two runs on six hits and three walks, striking out six over 5.2 innings pitched as the Tigers took game one, 9-2. It was his eighth win of the season.

Andrew McCutchen went 2-4 with an RBI and a double in game one. Nick Gonzales went 1-5 with a double out of the leadoff spot.

Billy Cook, up due to Bryan Reynolds going on the paternity list, went 1-4 with a run scored. Andrew Heaney was hammered, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings pitched.

Game two went to extra innings, with the Pirates coming out in front 8-4. Paul Skenes walked five batters, but also struck out nine, over six innings. David Bednar pitched the final 1.2 innings to pick up the win.

Nick Gonzales, Andrew McCutchen, and Jared Triolo hit home runs for the Pirates. Jack Suwinski, up as the 27th man, went 0-2 with two walks and a strikeout. He also stole a base.

The Pirates now head home for a weekend series against the Texas Rangers. Mike Burrows is the current projected starter.

In his sixth start of the season, Carlson Reed tossed five no-hit innings for the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Thursday.

Share Bucs On Deck

He walked four, but also struck out four against Greenville. He is still on a rehab assignment from the Altoona Curve. In six games this season, Reed has posted a 2.70 ERA, with 12 walks and 13 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched.

The Greensboro Grasshoppers did what they had to do, but their bid to lock up a playoff spot in the first half came up just short, as the Brooklyn Cyclones won on the last day of the first half.

They finished half a game behind the Cyclones.

It was an insane first-half run by the Grasshoppers, whose 45-20 record gave them the second-best winning percentage among all full-season minor league teams. The only team with a better winning percentage is Brooklyn.

Altoona Curve activated CF Jase Bowen from the 7-day injured list
Indianapolis Indians activated 1B Malcom Nunez from the 7-day injured list
C Brett Sullivan elected free agency
Pittsburgh Pirates recalled RF Jack Suwinski from Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians sent LHP Randy Labaut on a rehab assignment to Greensboro Grasshoppers

Top Exit Velocity

Oneil Cruz - PIT - 113.5 mph - Lineout
Tommy Pham - PIT - 108.7 mph - Groundout
Tommy Pham - PIT - 107.3 mph - Groundout
DJ Stewart - IND - 107.2 mph - Single
Alexander Canario - PIT - 107 mph - Single

Top Pitch Velocity

Eddy Yean - IND - 99.5 mph
Eddy Yean - IND - 99.3 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99.2 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99.1 mph
Paul Skenes - PIT - 99 mph

Most Whiffs

Paul Skenes - PIT - 21
Carlson Reed - GBO - 13
Drake Fellows - IND - 10
Ryan Harbin - GBO - 10
Hunter Barco - IND - 8

Support the site by becoming a paid member, and get access to all of our premium content, including our Top 25 list with complete player write-ups and video breakdowns, which come out weekly.

It will also give access to my player feature articles from on-site trips.