Paul Skenes continues to operate as one of the game's elite pitchers, holding the third-best ERA (2.03), ninth-most strikeouts (115) and fourth-most innings pitched (111) in Major League Baseball.
But teams have seemingly made things difficult on him over his last four starts, the most recent being one in which he threw 88 pitches and struck out five batters over five scoreless innings in the Pirates' 1-0 win over the Cardinals tonight at PNC Park.
Skenes, who now owns a 2.39 ERA and zero wins in six career starts against the Cardinals, had to grind through what DonKelly described as a "gutsy" performance. Opposing hitters fouled off 24 of his pitches and forced him into a third outing over a three-week period in which he's thrown 75-plus pitches over five innings or fewer.
"They did a really good job today," Skenes said. "I think that's one of the things teams try to do against me. We've done a pretty good job at times this year of counteracting that. Today was one of the days that they did a better job than we did. There are a lot of pitches that I executed that they just touched. Some for hits, a lot for foul balls and some for outs. Just one of those days."
Despite the Cardinals benefitting from six baserunners -- five hits and a walk -- and getting runners in scoring position in the first, third and fourth innings, Skenes never wavered. He made big-time pitches when necessary, relied on strong defense behind him and delivered his fourth scoreless performance of the season.
"All things considered, it went pretty well," Skenes said. "They could have easily put on a couple runs there. We made some really, really good plays behind me, so I'm thankful for that. I had to grind through it a little bit, but pretty happy with it."
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THE ASYLUM
José Negron
3:17 am - 07.02.2025North ShoreSkenes grinds through another 'gutsy' performance
Paul Skenes continues to operate as one of the game's elite pitchers, holding the third-best ERA (2.03), ninth-most strikeouts (115) and fourth-most innings pitched (111) in Major League Baseball.
But teams have seemingly made things difficult on him over his last four starts, the most recent being one in which he threw 88 pitches and struck out five batters over five scoreless innings in the Pirates' 1-0 win over the Cardinals tonight at PNC Park.
Skenes, who now owns a 2.39 ERA and zero wins in six career starts against the Cardinals, had to grind through what Don Kelly described as a "gutsy" performance. Opposing hitters fouled off 24 of his pitches and forced him into a third outing over a three-week period in which he's thrown 75-plus pitches over five innings or fewer.
"They did a really good job today," Skenes said. "I think that's one of the things teams try to do against me. We've done a pretty good job at times this year of counteracting that. Today was one of the days that they did a better job than we did. There are a lot of pitches that I executed that they just touched. Some for hits, a lot for foul balls and some for outs. Just one of those days."
Despite the Cardinals benefitting from six baserunners -- five hits and a walk -- and getting runners in scoring position in the first, third and fourth innings, Skenes never wavered. He made big-time pitches when necessary, relied on strong defense behind him and delivered his fourth scoreless performance of the season.
"All things considered, it went pretty well," Skenes said. "They could have easily put on a couple runs there. We made some really, really good plays behind me, so I'm thankful for that. I had to grind through it a little bit, but pretty happy with it."
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