Paul Skenes makes MLB debut, Pirates avoid disastrous finish in 10-9 win over the Cubs as fans chant ‘Fire Shelton’ at PNC Park
Paul Skenes was the No. 1 overall pick out of LSU in the 2023 MLB Draft. His debut was okay. The Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 10-9 with Skenes allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out seven.
Skenes took the mound and immediately struck out two batters in the first inning. Outside of a solo shot from Nico Hoerner in the 4th, the Bucco’s pitcher dominated. Skenes notched seven strikeouts and two walks on 84 pitches.
Paul Skenes MLB debut vs Chicago Cubs
Who’s more famous? Paul Skenes or his girlfriend, Olivia Dunne?
Pirates fans couldn’t help themselves…
The ending to the Pirates game was thankfully overshadowed by the debut of Paul Skenes. After Skenes allowed the first two batters to reach base in the fifth inning, Pirates’ manager Derek Shelton pulled him, which Pittsburgh fans clearly didn’t like as they chanted “Fire Shelton” from the stands at PNC Park.
The decision turned out to be disastrous for the Pirates. Reliever Kyle Nicolas struck out the first two batters before issuing a hit-by-pitch followed by three consecutive walks that scored three runs for the Cubs.
Shelton then removed Nicolas, replacing him with Josh Fleming, who allowed yet another bases-loaded walk and then an infield single to Mike Tauchman. Just like that, a lead for the Pirates was evaporated, with the Cubs making it a 6-6 ball game.
The Pirates did end up winning the baseball game 10-9 and followed that up with a 5-4 loss on Sunday. On the season, they are now 18-23 and in third place in the NL Central, trailing the Cubs by five games and the first place Milwaukee Brewers by 6.5 games.
Needless to say, the Pittsburgh Pirates still have a long ways to go to work themselves back into contention.
Adding Paul Skenes to a rotation that already features Jared Jones is a good step in the right direction. Jones got the call to The Show on March 30th and over his first five starts in the majors, he notched 39 strikeouts in 29 innings of work.
Join The Chase
Read More
Jared Young is done for the year after collision with Nolan McLean during Phillies-Mets
Scary moment during the Phillies’ win in Queens the other…
Lindsay Clancy jurors criticize the lone holdout, claim he couldn’t get past the fact that she “viciously killed her children”
I knew this thing would keep getting worse, and sure…
The SEC wants to kick LSU out and somehow I’m rooting for Lane Kiffin and the Tigers
I’m not even an LSU fan. In fact, I chose…
Comments (0)