Paul Skenes turned in a dominant performance on Friday, striking out 11 batters in six remarkable innings to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 9-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates' highly-touted young prospect, showcased his electric arsenal on Friday in a dazzling second major league start. Taking the mound against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Skenes delivered a dominant six-inning no-hitter, striking out 11 batters and allowing only one baserunner.
The 21-year-old right-hander, who was the No. 1 overall pick in last year's MLB Draft, displayed a fastball that consistently reached triple digits and an impressive array of off-speed pitches. Skenes cruised through the Cubs' lineup, striking out the first seven batters he faced, including the entire first inning on 100-mph fastballs.
His dominance continued throughout the outing, as Skenes struck out five more batters on pitches that clocked in at 100 mph or higher. The Cubs' lone baserunner, Michael Busch, reached base via a full-count walk in the fifth inning, but Skenes quickly recovered to retire the next three batters in order.
"It's not easy to pitch ever, regardless of the circumstances," Skenes said after the game. "But it's always easier to pitch when you have fastball command, because you have to have that. So that was the big thing today."
Skenes' performance marked just the third time in MLB history that a rookie pitcher recorded seven strikeouts to start a game. He also became the first rookie with an outing of at least six no-hit innings and 10-plus strikeouts since Chris Heston's no-hitter for the San Francisco Giants in 2015.
Manager Derek Shelton was effusive in his praise for Skenes, highlighting his ability to command his fastball and mix in his other pitches effectively. "He used all of his pitches," Shelton said. "He used his fastball. He used the sinker. He used the slider. The fact that he was able to go back and forth, and then go back to the fastball when he needed it, and when you go back to a fastball and it's 100, it kind of changes the dynamic a little bit."
Despite his dazzling performance, Skenes remained humble and attributed his success to improved command. "Felt good. I had my pitches working for me a lot better than last time," he said. "Like I said, it was nice to get that one out of the way."
Skenes' outing was a major highlight for the Pirates, who are in the midst of a rebuild. His performance provides a glimpse of the future for the franchise and suggests that they may have found a cornerstone for their young pitching staff.
