In an exciting baseball encounter at Dodger Stadium on Friday evening, Paul Skenes, the promising young pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, showed off his talent, much to the delight of his local supporters from nearby Orange County. Under the watchful eyes of about 35 family members and friends from home, Skenes stepped onto the mound to face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ formidable pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Skenes found himself in a high-pressure situation, battling not only one of baseball’s strongest teams but also the expectations of performing well in front of his loved ones. Despite the challenge, the 22-year-old maintained his composure and delivered an impressive performance with his wide array of pitches growing sharper with each game.
In a thrilling duel against Yamamoto, Skenes pitched into the seventh inning, allowing only five hits over a career-high 108 pitches. He successfully neutralized some of the Dodgers’ most dangerous batters, including Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, three times each, while also managing to leave Freddie Freeman stranded on base during both of his hits. With nine strikeouts and no walks, Skenes (3-2) played a crucial role in securing Pittsburgh’s 3-0 victory over Los Angeles.
Reflecting on his performance, Skenes acknowledged the challenge of facing a team filled with skilled hitters. “Even when you execute pitches, they’re still going to find ways to get on,” he remarked. “I definitely executed better today than the other two times I faced them, but that’s just kind of the nature of it. They’re really good hitters. You just have to find ways to get through innings.”
The young pitcher demonstrated remarkable poise, particularly during the tight spots in the fourth and fifth innings. After Freeman advanced to third base in the fourth due to a double that was difficult for Bryan Reynolds to catch, Skenes masterfully navigated through the inning, securing outs against Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman, and Will Smith. As Pittsburgh’s manager, Derek Shelton put it, “you saw why Paul Skenes is who Paul Skenes is.”
Skenes continued to showcase his talent in the fifth inning. When faced with a challenging situation and a two-out double by Andy Pages that set the stage for Ohtani, he found himself down in the count but managed to regain control and pitch brilliantly. Aided by his excellent curveball, he struck out the three-time MVP Ohtani, displaying tremendous confidence.
Shelton allowed Skenes a brief appearance in the seventh inning, where he struck out Smith with a deceiving splitter. His exit was met with applause from both his supportive family and the crowd at Dodgers Stadium. Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts praised Skenes, acknowledging his ability to prevent damage by keeping their hitters off balance with a mix of fastballs and off-speed pitches.
Despite Yamamoto’s recent fantastic form, entering the game with an outstanding 0.93 ERA over the past month, the Pirates managed to capitalize on their opportunities against him. Yamamoto struggled against Pittsburgh’s batters, giving up five singles and four walks during his performance. His struggles were exacerbated by a defensive miscue from Max Muncy, which resulted in two unearned runs in the fifth inning.
Shelton expressed his appreciation for the game, highlighting the strategic battle on the mound between Skenes and Yamamoto. “If you like pitching, it was a fun game to watch,” he said. For Skenes, the outing was particularly meaningful, as it provided an opportunity to reconnect with family and celebrate the win together, making it a memorable occasion for the aspiring pitcher. “Today was kind of a family get-together,” Skenes shared, cherishing the rare chance to bond with his family members.