PHOENIX (Interstat) — Paul Skenes threw eight innings of two-hit shutout ball, Brandon Lowe homered in the first and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 on Wednesday night at Chase Field. Skenes, the defending NL Cy Young winner, struck out seven and retired the first 14 batters before Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled. Nolan Arenado followed with a single, but Skenes set down the final nine. Lowe’s solo shot off Michael Soroka accounted for the game’s only run. Soroka (4-2) allowed one run on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. Gregory Soto earned his second save with a perfect ninth. The Pirates improved to 20-17; the Diamondbacks fell to 17-18. Attendance was 21,719. Time of game was 2:15.