Paul Skenes had a remarkable game, striking out 11 batters and not allowing any hits over six innings in his second time pitching in the major leagues. The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Chicago Cubs 9-3 in this game.
Skenes was in total control, with just one Cubs player reaching base on a walk in the fifth inning. Despite some nerves in his first game against the Cubs last week, he seemed much more at ease this time at Wrigley Field.
“It’s crucial to have good fastball control to compete effectively, no matter who you are,” Skenes commented. “Today felt much better compared to last week. I had more confidence in my fastball.”
At just 22 years old, Skenes showed impressive skill, striking out his first seven batters, including all three in the first inning with pitches over 100 mph. His final pitch, also over 100 mph, secured his 11th strikeout of the game.
He joined a select group of rookies who have started a game with seven strikeouts, a list that includes Jacob deGrom and Jim Deshaies. Additionally, he became the first rookie since Chris Heston in 2015 to pitch at least six no-hit innings with over 10 strikeouts.
“It was really impressive,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton praised. “He went straight at them.”
Andrew McCutchen and Jared Triolo hit home runs for Pittsburgh, helping them secure a 5-4 win in the first game of the four-game series on Thursday. Triolo and Yasmani Grandal both had two hits and three RBIs each.
Chicago didn’t have second baseman Nico Hoerner, who missed his fourth game due to tightness in his left hamstring. He’s considered day-to-day.
The Cubs got their first hit in the seventh inning when Christopher Morel singled to right field against Carmen Mlodzinski with two outs. Miguel Amaya hit a home run, and Morel added a two-run double in the eighth. Chicago ended the game with four hits, marking their fourth loss in five games.
Triolo hit a two-run homer in the third inning against Kyle Hendricks, and Pittsburgh added three more runs in each of the next two innings. Grandal’s two-run single in the fifth inning extended their lead to 8-0.
