Skenes Strong Start Not Enough in Loss to Rays

S. Samek

It was Skenes Sunday at PNC Park on June 23rd, 2023. Pittsburgh Pirates sent Paul Skenes to the mound looking for a win to take the series over the Tampa Bay Rays. Could he earn the series win for the Pirates?

Well, it didn’t start out so well. Skenes allowed a home run to Yandy Diaz to leadoff the game. However, he would settle in, only allowing that run. He finished with a line of seven innings pitched, which is a career high, six hits allowed, one walk and eight strikeouts. He lowered his era to 2.14 and threw 69 of 98 pitches for strikes.

The Pirates did score a run in the fourth inning to tie the score at one on a Bryan Reynolds solo home run. Skenes would exit with the score tied and receive a no decision.

Colin Holderman would give up a pair of runs in the eighth inning in relief of Skenes to give the Rays the 3-1 win.

Skenes continues to deliver and was even drawing hype to vote him into the All-Star Game. If nothing else, he is consistently good and it’s great to see. They just need to score some runs in support of him so they can win games.