​Phoot provided by Matt LynchPaul Skenes delivered his best start in months and Oneil Cruz lifted the Pirates to a 1-0 win over the Padres with a ninth inning home run off Mason Miller at Petco Park on Tuesday night. Scoring PlaysTop 9th, 1-0 PIT: Oneil Cruz broke the scoreless tie and gave the Pirates (65-69) the lead by lining a two-out solo home run to right field off All-Star closer Mason Miller (4-2).Key MomentsOneil Cruz’s home run was the first allowed by Mason Miller this season. The last player to homer off Miller was Arizona’s Lourdes Gurriel Jr., which came last year on Aug. 5. Miller had recorded 223 outs between the two home runs. CRUZ MISSILEOneil Cruz lines a go-ahead home run 111.8 MPH off the bat! pic.twitter.com/AFbom56kHn— MLB (@MLB) August 26, 2026The Padres (71-62) had the tying run on second base with two outs in the ninth, but Mason Montgomery struck out Jackson Merrill for his sixth save of the season. Player of the GameOneil Cruz’s game-winning swing was hit first-career go-ahead home run in the ninth inning or later. It was Cruz’s third homer in seven games since returning from the IL. Stat to KnowPaul Skenes delivered a scoreless outing for the first time since May 12 against the Rockies. It was his first time completing six innings since July 19 at the Guardians. Notable PerformancesPaul Skenes: 6.0 innings, three hits, no runs, no walks, four strikeouts, 87 pitches/55 strikesOneil Cruz: 1 for 3, one home run, one walk, one RBI, one runBryan Reynolds: 2 for 4, one doubleNoteworthyGregory Soto (6-4) got the win after a 1-2-3 eighth inning. Paul Skenes retired 12 of the final 12 batters he faced. Skenes, Camilo Doval, Soto and Mason Montgomery gave the Pirates’ their eighth shutout this seasonThe Pirates gained a game on the Padres in the wild card race and are now 6.5 games back. The Pirates recalled RHP Noah Murdock from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned RHP Khristian Curtis to Indianapolis. Up NextRHP Bubba Chandler (6-8, 4.38 ERA) takes the mound for the Pirates in Wednesday’s finale. The Padres have yet to announce a starting pitcher. First pitch: 4:10 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.Around the NetworkPittsburgh Baseball Now:Perrotto: Time to Shut Down a Silly Paul Skenes IdeaPittsburgh Hockey Now:Top 5 Penguins GM Escapes: Big Trades and ChangesSteelers Now:Bell: What Would Mason Rudolph & Will Howard Be Worth in Trade Market?Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pittsburgh Steelers Sign Former Pitt S Brandon HillThe post Skenes Returns to Form, Cruz Lifts Pirates to Win With Homer off All-Star Miller appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.