Paul Skenes struck out eight batters in five innings, while Aroldis Chapman threw the fastest pitch of the season, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates secure a 10-6 win against Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.
Skenes, who remains undefeated this season with a 3-0 record, allowed three runs on six hits, including a two-run homer by Ohtani in the third inning. Despite Ohtani’s impressive hit, Skenes managed to strike him out with a 100 mph fastball in the first inning, one of the 28 pitches thrown by both Skenes and Chapman that reached triple-digit speeds.
Reflecting on Skenes’ performance, Ohtani acknowledged the challenge he faced against the Pirates’ pitcher. Despite struggling to make solid hits, Ohtani praised Skenes for his impressive performance.
Skenes started strong against the Dodgers, striking out Mookie Betts and Ohtani in the opening inning. However, the Dodgers gradually found their rhythm, putting consistent pressure on the 6-foot-6 right-hander.
In the third inning, Ohtani hit a 100 mph fastball into the Los Angeles bullpen for his 15th home run of the season.
Skenes faced some difficulty, needing 91 pitches to through five innings despite being given an early lead. However, he showed resilience in the fifth inning when the Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs. Skenes remained composed and managed to get Hernandez to ground out to third, ending the threat and maintaining the Pirates’ 7-3 lead.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton praised Skenes for his composure and ability to handle pressure situations against a formidable lineup like the Dodgers’.
