By COLIN BEAZLEY

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

PITTSBURGH (TNS) — A few short weeks ago in Philadelphia, Paul Skenes stood in front of his locker amidst a downcast clubhouse. He’d been brilliant, throwing a complete game, allowing three hits and striking out nine. The Pirates had lost anyways.

“Obviously not everything is within my power,” Skenes said. “… Just control what we can control on an individual level. That’s been my focus. That’s always been my focus.”

On Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, it happened again.

The Houston Astros beat the Pirates 3-0 in the series opener at PNC Park, as the Pirates’ listless offense meant Skenes left another sterling start with a loss. A seventh-inning Christian Walker home run off Skenes would have been the decider. A two-run ninth inning homer by Jeremy Pena off Dennis Santana eliminated any doubt.

Skenes completed eight innings, striking out eight and allowing one run on three hits.

He wasn’t as overpowering as he was in Philadelphia until, after the homer, he reared back and struck out the next four batters he faced. When he left the field after the eighth, he left to a standing ovation. He’s now 4-6 with a 2.05 ERA.

The Pirate offense managed four hits. It was shut out for a majors-high 10th time this season, more than one out of every four losses. The Pirates are 22-39.

Astros starter Lance McCullers, who entered with a 5.89 ERA, pitched six scoreless innings and struck out seven.

He allowed just two

hits. Three Astros relievers finished the game. Josh Hader pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out two, and earned his 16th save of the season.

It was over when … Like in Philadelphia, the Astros’ run felt decisive. On Tuesday, the Pirates’ recent offensive outburst in Arizona looked like a mere desert mirage.

On the mound Skenes was impressively efficient, cruising through six innings on 67 pitches and needing 99 for eight. He only faced one jam, with runners on the corners and one out in the third, and got Jeremy Pena to ground into an inning-ending double play. In five of his eight innings, he set the Astros down 1-2-3. Walker sent his lone mistake, a firstpitch slider over the heart of the plate, into the left field bleachers.

At the plate The Pirates had opportunities to score in both the seventh and eighth innings. Second baseman Nick Gonzales, who was placed on the injured list after the first game of the season, returned and led off the seventh with an infield single. He was swiftly thrown out trying to steal second.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa led off the eighth with a single, with Oneil Cruz replacing him on a fielder’s choice. When Cruz tried to steal second, he was tagged out after he slid past the bag.

Most valuable player Even though not everything was in his power, Skenes was the best player on the field.

Up next The Pirates and Astros continue their three-game series on Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. ET. with a matchup of two rookies. Mike Burrows (0-1, 8.64 ERA) will throw for Pittsburgh, making his fourth career appearance, while right-hander Ryan Gusto (3-2, 4.62) will make his eighth start for Houston.