Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes had his best major league start on Thursday, delivering a final statement for why he needs to be the NL's starting pitcher in next Tuesday's All-Star Game. Skenes didn't allow a hit in seven innings, striking out 11 Brewers batters in a 1-0 win. He retired the final 16 batters he faced and only allowed two baserunners overall — on a walk and hit by pitch to back-to-back hitters in the bottom of the second.
He recorded his seventh strikeout when he retired the side in the third, setting a Pirates franchise record for most consecutive starts with at least seven strikeouts (eight). Paul Skenes has now recorded 7+ strikeouts in eight consecutive starts, a new franchise record! pic.twitter.
com/PagN6aZ29s Skenes has blown past batters all season with his ferocious fastball, but he painted his masterpiece on Thursday with his full repertoire of pitches, including a devastating slider. He got Brewers left fielder Sal Frelick to swing at a late-breaking pitch in the fourth and then caught center fielder Blake Perkins staring at a beautiful backdoor slider for his 11th strikeout. Paul Skenes racks up his 9th K.
It's the 4th inning ...
pic.twitter.com/Uj5n4Miaw7 Paul Skenes, 11th K.
I guess today's the day he shows off his backdoor slider. Dude just gets bored & dominates with a different pitch every game. pic.
twitter.com/X7hnYiiIrN No one in baseball is pitching better than Skenes. He entered the game with a 2.
12 earned run average (ERA) in his firs.
