CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Oneil Cruz launched a three-run homer in the first inning, his third in two games, and Paul Skenes delivered five strong innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed a series victory with an 8-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park.

The Pirates, who evened their record at 3-3, struck immediately against Reds starter Andrew Abbott. After two quick outs, Bryan Reynolds singled and Marcell Ozuna walked, setting the stage for Cruz. The center fielder drove Abbott’s 1-1 offering deep to right field, staking Pittsburgh to a 3-0 lead before many in the afternoon crowd of 15,007 had settled in.

That early cushion was more than enough for Skenes. The Pirates’ right-hander, coming off a disastrous season debut where he recorded just two outs and allowed five runs, rebounded authoritatively. He scattered three hits, walked two and struck out five over five innings, allowing only a lone run in the fourth. Elly De La Cruz led off that inning with a single, advanced on a groundout and scored on Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI double.

Skenes navigated subsequent traffic, including a two-out single in the fifth, to preserve a 3-1 lead and earn his first win of the season. Abbott took the loss for Cincinnati, also moving to 1-1, after surrendering four runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Pittsburgh added a run in the sixth without the benefit of a hit. Cruz singled and two walks followed, loading the bases for Spencer Horwitz, who drew another walk from reliever Tony Santillan to force in a run and extend the lead to 4-1.

The Reds responded swiftly in the bottom half against Pirates reliever Isaac Mattson. After a walk to Sal Stewart, pinch-hitter Eugenio Suárez connected for a two-run homer to left field, slicing the deficit to 4-3 and injecting life into the home side.

From there, the Pirates’ bullpen slammed the door. Gregory Soto struck out two in a perfect seventh, and Justin Lawrence worked a 1-2-3 eighth. Pittsburgh then put the game out of reach with a four-run outburst in the ninth against Reds pitcher Fernando Cruz.

Horwitz led off with a single, Henry Davis was hit by a pitch, and after a strikeout, Nick Gonzales delivered the critical blow, a two-run double down the left-field line. Bryan Reynolds followed by launching a first-pitch, two-run homer to right, his second of the season, providing the final 8-3 margin.

Lawrence returned to close out the ninth, striking out Tyler Stephenson to end the game, which lasted 2 hours, 42 minutes.

The victory gave Pittsburgh the series, two games to one, after the teams split the first two contests. Both clubs now sit at .500 early in the season. The Pirates’ offense produced nine hits, led by Cruz and Reynolds, who each had two hits and combined for five RBIs. Gonzales also contributed two hits and two RBIs. Cincinnati managed just five hits, with Suárez’s pinch-hit homer representing their most significant swing.

Pittsburgh’s pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts against five walks, effectively silencing the Reds’ lineup after the Suárez homer. Cincinnati’s staff struck out 17 but issued seven walks and two hit batters.

The result defied pregame projections, as statistical models had favored the Reds with a 56.6% probability to win and predicted a higher-scoring affair. The combined 11 runs sailed over an over/under line of 7.5.

The Pirates now return home to open a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The Reds embark on a road trip, beginning a three-game set with the Texas Rangers, also on Friday.