Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Paul Skenes looks to win his fourth straight decision when the Pirates open a three-game series against the visiting Miami Marlins on Monday.
The Pirates (67-76) and the Marlins (54-89) enter Monday coming off series-finale wins against the Washington Nationals and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively.
Skenes (9-2, 2.13 ERA) is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA over his past four starts. In his last start, he threw 100 pitches over five scoreless innings of a win against the Cubs, surviving bases-loaded jams in each of the first two innings. He allowed four hits, walked four and struck out six.
“I think any situation he has like that is just going to make him better,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “Like we’ve talked about numerous times, a lot of people go through this in the minor leagues, and he’s going through it at the major league level.”
Skenes has not faced Miami.
The Marlins will counter with rookie right-hander Valente Bellozo (2-2, 3.78), who will be making his 10th MLB start.
After a pair of starts in which he gave up a total of 11 earned runs in 8 2/3 innings, Bellozo had a strong effort on Sept. 4 against the Nationals. He tossed six-plus shutout innings and allowed three hits in a no-decision.
The Pirates and Marlins were boosted by rookie hitters in earning four-game series splits on Sunday.
Pittsburgh’s Billy Cook, called up Sunday from Triple-A Indianapolis, had a two-run double and a single in his major league debut as the Pirates beat the Nationals 7-3.
Cook, normally an outfielder who can play second base and first, made his debut at first. He was acquired from the Orioles at the trade deadline in a deal for pitcher Patrick Reilly. Cook hit .276 with nine stolen bases and five home runs in 30 games with Indianapolis.
“As a utility guy, they see me as someone who can move around, being able to be in the lineup,” Cook said. “If that’s at first or in the outfield, then I’ll do it.”
Joey Bart hit a two-run homer, and Andrew McCutcheon and Michael A. Taylor added solo home runs as the Pirates bounced back after a doubleheader sweep on Saturday.
The Marlins routed the Phillies 10-1 on Sunday to earn the split.
Connor Norby produced his first career multi-homer game and fellow rookie Griffin Conine added three hits. Norby has six homers, 13 RBIs and has hit safely in 17 of 18 games since being recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 19.
Javier Sanoja, who picked up an RBI in his major league debut Saturday, had two hits in his first start on Sunday.
“I was like, ‘Who is this little guy? He mashes, he just rakes, he hits everybody and everything,’ ” Norby said of Sanoja. “I’m glad he’s up here.”
Sanoja, who turned 22 on Tuesday, was a non-roster invitee at the Marlins camp. He started the season at Double-A Pensacola but was there just 15 games before being promoted to Triple-A Jacksonville and then to Miami.
“He made it up here quick,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “He was in the (Dominican Summer League) like three years ago. Honestly, he still looks like he could be in the DSL how young he is, but it’s pretty cool to see him up here.”
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