In a first for his 47-game career, pitcher Paul Skenes surrenders seven hits.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes Breaks Record with Historic Performance
In a stunning display of pitching prowess, Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates led his team to a 7-0 victory against the Cincinnati Reds, extending his record-breaking streak of low-hit allowance in Major League Baseball (MLB) history.
Skenes' performance in this game was described as "unbelievable" by Pirates manager Don Kelly, with the young pitcher striking out eight batters and maintaining his ERA at an impressive 1.94 – the lowest among qualified pitchers.
This game marked Skenes' 46th start in his MLB career, a milestone that further cements his place in the annals of baseball history. Through these 46 starts, Skenes has consistently demonstrated exceptional control, allowing an opposing batting average of just .186 and maintaining an ERA under 2.00 – a feat unparalleled in the Live Ball Era of over 100 years.
The record for the longest streak to begin a Major League Baseball career while allowing six or fewer hits per game is held by Skenes himself. His extraordinary level of dominance has set him apart from all other pitchers, including Paul Skenes' performance against the Reds, which saw him extend his scoreless streak at home to 27 2/3 innings, not allowing a run at PNC Park since June 8 against Philadelphia.
Skenes' current home streak of not allowing an earned run is the longest for a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher at home since 1912. This impressive feat places him alongside Bob Harmon (1915) and Zane Smith (1990) in the team's record books.
In the game on Thursday, Skenes yielded seven hits over six innings, marking the end of a 46-game streak of allowing six or fewer hits in a game. However, the run allowed on June 8 against Philadelphia was unearned, demonstrating Skenes' exceptional control even in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Pirates manager Don Kelly described Skenes' performance as "elite," and with good reason. Skenes' impressive performance against the Reds contributes to his 1.94 ERA, the lowest among qualified pitchers, and his 4-0 career record against the Cincinnati Reds. He is also the only major league pitcher (since the introduction of earned runs as an official statistic in 1912) to have a streak of not allowing an earned run over five home starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Skenes' record-breaking streak is a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication, and it places him among the greatest pitchers in the history of the sport. As he continues to dominate on the mound, baseball fans can expect to see more historic performances from this young pitching phenom.
[1] Baseball-Reference.com [2] FanGraphs.com
- Remarkable as Skenes' recent baseball performance was, it wasn't just about pitching—he also made history in MLB elections by becoming the youngest player to serve on the Players' Association executive board.
- As the sports world eagerly awaits election results, it seems the news of Paul Skenes' historic streak is creating a major buzz, perhaps even influencing voters' decisions in upcoming elections.
- With Paul Skenes setting records in both news and sports spheres, many are left wondering if his next groundbreaking feat will be in the realm of politics—perhaps running for office during the upcoming elections.
