Paul Skenes wins as the Pirates strike out seven in his MLB debut.

Paul Skenes performance lived up to the hype.
a fastball that clocked 17 fastballs per minute or more. Major Leaguers were shaking their heads after seeing that slider. An innovation known as a “splinker” that dips and dives unlike any pitch in baseball. It is a cross between a splitter and a sinker.

Even still, at the age of 21, the rookie for the Pittsburgh Pirates is aware of all the “oohs” and “ahs” and understands that if he can’t manage it, it won’t matter how much of a ball sometimes appears to shoot out of his right hand.
Despite the fact that his big league debut on Saturday included seven strikeouts in four and a half innings and a decisive 10-9 win against the Chicago Cubs, the top overall choice from the previous year’s draft realised there was still work to be done.
In addition to walking a few, hitting a batter, and requiring 84 pitches to record 12 outs, he was also assessed three runs. That’s not quite as efficient as a player would want, especially because his workload will be regularly monitored.
Yes, there were moments of genius in front of 34,924 people, including his well-known girlfriend Livvy Dunne, an influencer on social media and gymnast at LSU.
There were also times when Skenes’ skill level served as a reminder from the Cubs that he is still a rookie and has only been a full-time pitcher for a short while. And to be successful at the greatest level of baseball, you’ll need to do more than just push the radar gun’s limitations.
Derek Shelton, the manager of the Pirates, attributed Skenes’ inconsistent performance to the unease that all players have when entering the big leagues. Before getting called up this week, Skenes had a 0.99 ERA in seven outings for Triple-A Indianapolis. He refused to provide details.
“There are several reasons for it,” Skenes said. “But it just wasn’t as sharp as it’s been.”
Nevertheless, he said that the day had lived up to his expectations.
In his on-field postgame interview with Sportsnet Pittsburgh, Skenes said, “Once-in-a-lifetime experience, for sure.” “Just an awesome experience from the first pitch, and I’m glad we got a win.”
With pitch-tracking in place since 2008, Skenes’ average fastball velocity was the highest of any Pirates starter at 100.1 mph. In his first season since 2008, he tied for third place among all players with 17 pitches at least 100 mph. And in his big league debut, he became the youngest pitcher in Pirates history, 21 years of age or younger, to record at least seven strikeouts since Nick Maddox, who struck out 11 against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1907, 95 years before Skenes was born.
Maddox only appeared in four seasons. Skenes is clearly the subject of increased expectations.
The Pirates had hinted at his call-up on Wednesday, and his eagerly awaited presence created a playoff vibe at PNC Park—or as close to October in mid-May as possible for a club that hasn’t made it to the playoffs since 2015.
To get a glimpse of Skenes’ pregame ritual, fans gathered behind the Pirates’ bullpen, extending over the center-field fence in lines of two and three deep. The club shop located under the left-field stands was busy, with some customers spending $200 on shirts with Skenes’ No. 30 sewn on the back.
Skenes’ ascent from an almost unknown Air Force Academy cadet to MVP of the College World Series at LSU, a record $9.2 million signing bonus, and potential franchise cornerstone has been breathtaking. Nevertheless, he exuded ease.
Skenes began what he has compared to the end of one chapter in his life and the beginning of a new one when he boldly sauntered out of the dugout, his black socks pushed up high against his white slacks and bounding over the third-base line.
As Skenes warmed up, “Cue Country Roads” by Charles Wesley Godwin blared over the speakers, and a good chunk of the audience rose.
The excitement subsided as Chicago designated hitter Mike Tauchman entered the batter’s box. With a quirky delivery and an unfolded 6-foot-6 physique, Skenes hit a 101 mph fastball to Trautman, which plate umpire Paul Clemons said was a ball.
After swinging at a second fastball, this one reaching 100.9 mph, and tipping it into catcher Yasmani Grandal’s glove for Skenes’ first strikeout, Trautman was making his way back to the bench after six pitches.
He waited three pitches for his second.
Seiya Suzuki, the right fielder for the Cubs, took two called strikes, the second of which was a slider that clocked at 87 mph that caused Suzuki to shake his head, before wildly swinging at another one.
Cody Bellinger, a centre fielder for the Chicago Cubs, worked a walk, but only after accepting a fastball that travelled 101.9 mph, the fastest by a Pirates pitcher since pitch speed was tracked by Major League Baseball in 2008.
Skenes got Christopher Morel to fly out to deep centre to end the inning. With one out, the bases were loaded thanks to a walk, a hit batter, and a single in the second. Whatever. Tauchman grounded out to second after Yan Gomes struck out looking at a fastball.
Skenes, who withdrew to the tunnel behind the dugout while the Pirates were hitting, continued to mix triple-digit fastballs with offspeed pitches that were still being worked on for the following two innings. Hoerner hit a hanging first-pitch slider for a long hit.
Tauchman doubled to start the fifth inning, and Suzuki singled infield. Then, as many spectators sprang to their feet, Shelton walked up to the mound to remove Skenes.
Skenes tried to unwind for the following few hours, which included a two-hour and twenty-minute rain delay. With a couple of his friends, some of whose major league careers started while he was still in elementary school, he used to hang around in the dugout.
He’ll attempt to get back into the swing of things on Sunday and get ready for his next start, which will probably be a late-week rematch with the Cubs at Wrigley Field. There won’t be nearly as much hype. and maybe less nervousness as well.
“It’s gonna be nice to get into a routine for sure,” he said. Since I value routines a lot, this past week has been difficult. However, the most important thing is that you have to pitch.”

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