Unfortunate event: Paul Skenes records his initial career blunder with the Cubs
From the Rubber Match to the Starting Line
Taking on the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates found themselves in a critical game, with Paul Skenes taking the mound with the hopes of steering their season back on course. This series win could have made a significant impact against the division leaders. However, things didn't go as planned.
In the infamous fifth inning, Skenes faced the music, giving up not one, not two, but three home runs to the Cubs. This unfortunate event was, astonishingly, a first in Skenes' Pirates career. Analyst Josh Frydman of WGN confirmed, "And now Seiya goes deep! First time in Skenes' career he's allowed 3 HR in a start - and they all come in the same inning."
With the Pirates leading 2-0, Dansby Swanson set off the dominoes in the fifth inning with a solo homer, a rare sight for Skenes, who had only allowed one homer this season to this point. Following Swanson, Nicky Lopez and Ian Happ were retired, although the peace was short-lived. As Skenes took on the heart of the Cubs' lineup, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki sent back-to-back homers, stealing the lead from the Pirates.
Skenes managed to escape the inning, but the damage was done. The Pirates' offense struggled to respond, and the deficit swelled to 5-2 in the seventh.
A Blip or a Trend?
With this gut-wrenching performance against the Cubs, an important question arises for Skenes: are teams catching on to his game? Skenes has stunned spectators with his impressive stats thus far, and the question remains whether or not his newly-acquired pitches will be his undoing. Though this outing is concerning, it may be premature to sound the alarms just yet.
The Pirates face the Padres over the weekend, with Skenes sitting out this series. His next start will most likely take place against the Cardinals, another team that has faced Skenes frequently. Skenes’ dominance against divisional opponents continues to soar, making these divisional matchups a curious matter to watch closely. With the Pirates still grappling with offensive issues, they cannot afford mediocre starts from their ace during this pivotal season.
As the Pirates remain in Pittsburgh to welcome the Padres, the team will be keeping a keen eye on Skenes’ performance against divisional opponents, hoping that he will continue to exceed expectations and contribute to a turnaround for the team.
- The poor performance of Paul Skenes in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs, where he allowed three home runs, was a first in his Pirates career.
- The Pirates' offense struggled to respond after Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker sent back-to-back homers, swelling the deficit to 5-2 in the seventh.
- In the upcoming series, Skenes will miss the games against the Padres and his next start will likely be against the Cardinals, a team he has historically dominated.
- The Pirates, still struggling with offensive issues, cannot afford mediocre starts from their ace, Skenes, during this pivital season.
- With the Pirates remaining in Pittsburgh to welcome the Padres, they will be keenly observing Skenes' performance against divisional opponents, hoping for continued dominance.
