Tag: Even Skenes bombed

Final Score: Pirates 3 Cubs 8

Why The Pirates Lost: I will say it. Paul Skenes is not the pitcher he was in 2024. When he first came up, his fastball regularly touched 100 MPH. He had one fastball yesterday that was clocked at 99.6. He threw 25 four-seam fastballs. The vast majority of them were right around 98 MPH. He had two as low as 96 and one at 95. He is not the first Pirate pitcher to go through this. Roansy Contreras, Luis Ortiz, and Jared Jones all had decreases in velocity the longer they pitched for the Pirates. In just 5 innings of work, Skenes threw 86 pitches, with 37 out of the strike zone. He walked 4, including 3 in a row in the 3rd inning. In the top of the 5th, he gave up 3 solo home runs. Two of the pitches were right down the middle, letter high. The third one was belt high over the outer third of the plate. I know his ERA is still under 3, but where is the velocity and, more importantly, where is the command? The Pirates started 3 players with batting averages of .163 or less. The 100 club, even though they did not light it up, did not do too bad considering they can’t hit. They went 2 for 9 with a walk. They scored 2 runs but had no RBIs. The entire team had 5 hits. The bullpen got ripped open for 5 runs over the last 4 innings. It was another disappointing but surprising blowout loss.

Key Moment Of The Game: Even though he struggled for 4 innings, Skenes had shut out the Cubs with 1 hit and 4 walks. Then the bombs started coming. One out, Dansby Swanson, 102 MPH, 392 ft. home run. Two outs, Kyle Tucker, 103 MPH, 395 ft. home run. Next batter, Seiya Suzuki, 104 MPH, 392 ft. home run. Before you could say what’s wrong with Paul Skenes, the score was 3-2 Cubs. Suzuki hit a 2-run homer in the top of the 7th. The Pirates squeaked out a run in the bottom of the 8th. The score was 5-3 Cubs going to the top of the 9th. In came Hunter (Please Don’t Put Me In Meaningful Situations) Stratton. He did not disappoint, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits in one inning of “work.” The game was over.

Next Game: Tonight Padres in Pittsburgh. The San Diego Padres come to town to start a weekend 3-game series. The Pirate starting pitchers are set. The .100 club is anticipating playing in all 3 games. Can the Pirates win one game of the series? Pham, Canario, Davis, and Triolo are guaranteeing a 3-game sweep. They are ready to break out. Derek Shelton just knows it. It is supposed to rain a lot this weekend. We can only pray.