Pittsburgh Pirates' Paul Skenes' stellar outing was overshadowed by a catastrophic bullpen implosion, leading to a demoralizing loss against the Chicago Cubs. His girlfriend, social media star Livvy Dunne, expressed her frustration with the outcome.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates endured a crushing defeat at the hands of the Chicago Cubs, squandering a commanding 10-3 lead to succumb to a 14-10 loss at home. The game marked a disheartening setback for Pirates phenom starter Paul Skenes, who had displayed impressive form on the mound, surrendering only two runs on five hits while striking out six batters over five innings of work.
Skenes' valiant efforts were ultimately overshadowed by a colossal bullpen collapse that denied him another victory in his rookie season. His girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, a renowned social media sensation and LSU gymnast, took to her X account to express her exasperation with the outcome. She posted a meme of Skenes captioned "You gotta be kidding me," a nod to his previous challenging start against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this season.
Pirates' Phenom Faces Another Heartbreaking Loss After Bullpen Collapse
Dunne's reaction mirrored the sentiments of many Pirates fans, who witnessed their team squander a seemingly comfortable seven-run lead heading into the seventh inning. Kyle Nicolas, who had pitched a scoreless sixth inning, was forced to depart in the seventh after yielding a two-run homer to Christian Bethancourt, narrowing the deficit to 10-5.
Aroldis Chapman, brought in to replace Nicolas, exacerbated the situation in the eighth inning, surrendering three earned runs to make it 10-8. The Pirates were compelled to summon closer David Bednar into the bullpen, but his efforts proved futile. Chapman's disastrous outing handed Bednar an unenviable task, and he too succumbed, allowing five runs on just three hits and two walks, resulting in his sixth blown save of the year.
Pirates' Phenom Faces Another Heartbreaking Loss After Bullpen Collapse
The Cubs' explosive six-run rally in the ninth inning sealed the Pirates' fate, leaving them stunned and demoralized. Bednar, typically a reliable closer, was unable to stem the tide, dashing the Pirates' hopes of salvaging the game.
Skenes' misfortune is not an isolated incident. This season, he has repeatedly witnessed the bullpen unravel after he departed from his starts. His MLB debut was marked by electric performance, striking out seven and hitting speeds of over 100 mph with his fastball 17 times on May 11. However, the Cubs capitalized on numerous walks and a rain delay to erupt for seven runs in the fifth inning, ultimately losing 10-9 despite Skenes' efforts.
Pirates' Phenom Faces Another Heartbreaking Loss After Bullpen Collapse
The Pirates' bullpen struggles have cast a shadow over Skenes' promising rookie campaign, leaving fans longing for a more consistent performance from the relief corps. With the season drawing to a close, the Pirates must address these glaring deficiencies if they hope to compete in the future.
