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The Pittsburgh Pirates faced the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, where rookie pitcher Paul Skenes delivered an impressive performance despite the team's 3-1 loss.
Skenes impresses despite loss
The game started with a challenging moment for Skenes as Tampa Bay's Yandy Díaz hit a home run off his first pitch, a 99-mph fastball sent soaring into the right field stands.
"There's no secret that he's a good pitcher,"Díaz commented after the game.
"You don't want to battle too many pitches or see too many pitches in your count. So, that's why I went for the first pitch."
Despite this rocky start, Skenes quickly found his rhythm.
Over the next six innings, the rookie showcased his impressive arsenal, including his signature fastballs and a deceptive splitter/sinker pitch.
He even managed to escape a bases-loaded situation in the third inning, demonstrating his composure and skill under pressure.
In his seventh appearance of the season, Skenes pitched seven full innings, allowing just six hits and striking out eight batters on 98 pitches.
His performance was notable, yet he received little offensive from his teammates.
The Pirates' sole run came from a solo home run by designated hitter Bryan Reynolds in the fourth inning, leaving Skenes with a no-decision.
"That's kind of been the goal since the start of the year, being able to get guys out quick," Skenes reflected.
"A couple of one-pitch outs in there. It was nice to cover that many innings."
Skenes continues Rookie of the Year type campaign
Despite the loss, Skenes' stats continue to impress.
The 22-year-old right-hander, who was drafted first overall by Pittsburgh in 2023, has now recorded 61 strikeouts and eight walks in his first eight starts.
This achievement places him among elite company, becoming the first National League pitcher since 1901 to achieve at least 60 strikeouts and fewer than 10 walks in his initial eight appearances.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Masahiro Tanaka is the only other pitcher to accomplish this feat in the MLB.
Skenes retired the final 11 batters he faced, ending his day by striking out Alex Jackson with a blazing 102 mph fastball.
This brought his ERA down to an impressive 2.14.
Notably, Skenes has thrown 70 pitches of at least 100 mph this season, far outpacing any other starter in the league.
In his last three starts since June 11, Skenes boasts an 0.93 ERA with 23 strikeouts and only two walks in 19 1/3 innings.
His consistent performance places him as a strong contender in the National League Rookie of the Year Award race, especially with other frontrunners like Los Angeles Dodgers'Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga facing their own challenges.
While the Pirates' 3-1 loss to the Rays might have been a setback, Paul Skenes' standout performance continues to highlight his promising future in Major League Baseball.