With the MLB deadline fast approaching, the Pirates made two trades on Monday, but neither was of the all-in variety.

No, in the afternoon, hours before the Bucs took on the Astros in the first of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park, it was announced that Pittsburgh had sent pitching prospect Quinn Priester to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Nick Yorke, a promising hitter from their farm system. Priester was a first-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and had been a top pitching prospect in Pittsburgh’s farm system for several years. Unfortunately, it was a mixed bag for the young righty, 23, after making his Major League debut last season. In 20 games–including 14 starts–Priester compiled a 5-9 record and posted a 6.46 ERA. He struck out 67 batters in 94.2 innings and walked 40. In return, the Pirates get Yorke, the Red Sox top pick in the 2020 draft. Yorke was a top-15 prospect in Boston’s system and had worked his way up to triple-A before the trade. In 38 games at the triple-A level, Yorke posted a stat line of .310/.408/.490 and smacked six home runs. He plays second base and in the outfield. He will likely man the former position once he’s ultimately called up to the Pirates’ big league roster. There is certainly a void to fill at second thanks to the groin injury suffered by Nick Gonzales, landing the promising youngster on the 10-day injured list. The Pirates made another trade later on Monday when they acquired veteran left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Luis Peralta, a southpaw reliever from their farm system. Beeks, 30, has six years of Major League experience with three different teams–Rays, Red Sox and Rockies. He’s made 176 appearances–including 157 out of the bullpen. He has a 4.43 career ERA and 14 saves.

As for that game against the Astros at Minute Maid Park? It was Paul Skenes Night, as he took the mound for Pittsburgh. Skenes looked to bounce back after suffering the first loss of his rookie season in his last start against the Cardinals at PNC Park. Ironically enough, that was the longest outing of Skenes’s career, as he pitched into the ninth inning but exited with a 2-1 deficit after allowing the go-ahead run.

Skenes wasn’t quite as good against the Astros on Monday, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out six and walking three.

Meanwhile, no Pirates hitter had transformed himself into a base runner through five innings, before catcher Yasmani Grandal ended Houston’s bid for a perfect game (it was a bullpen day for the Astros) by smacking a solo home run with two outs in the top of the sixth. The score remained 2-1 through seven innings until Oneil Cruz tied things up by driving in Jared Triolo with a two-out double to right field in the top of the eighth.

Then in the top of the ninth inning, Michael A. Taylor, who was in the game thanks to a leg injury suffered by Joshua Palacios, hit a two-out, three-run home run to give the Pirates a 5-2 lead.

Closer David Bednar made things very interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning, but after walking in a run with two outs and the bases loaded, he got Yainer Diaz to pop out to shortstop to end the game.

The Pirates are now 54-52 and two back of San Diego for the third wildcard spot in the National League. Also, thanks to yet another loss by the injury-riddled Braves, Pittsburgh is only two-and-a-half games back of the top wildcard seed.