It took nearly two months, but Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes is finally back in the win column.
Skenes earned the win in Monday’s 3-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers, outdueling Jack Flaherty at PNC Park. He yielded just three hits and a walk while striking out six over six scoreless innings in his first start since the All-Star Break and his longest outing since June 19 (also against the Tigers).
The 23-year-old ace finally got some run support, too, as the Pirates scored three runs for him in the bottom of the second inning. That was more than enough for Skenes and Pittsburgh’s bullpen, who completed the team’s 11th shutout of the season.
The victory was only Skenes’ fifth of the season and his first since May 28, ending a streak of eight straight starts without a win. During that time, Skenes went 0-3 with five no-decisions despite posting a 1.77 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.
Lack of run support was the main culprit, as the Pirates averaged just two runs per game during those eight outings. Their offense has been in a major funk lately, averaging just two runs per game over their last 13 overall.
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The win was Skenes’ second since the start of May and only his second in nine home starts this season, marking his first home victory since April 14 against the Washington Nationals.
The two-time All-Star has not allowed any runs in three of his last four starts, lowering his ERA to an MLB-best 1.91. Even with his 5-8 record, he’s been arguably the best pitcher in baseball this year and could be headed for his first NL Cy Young award.
Skenes snapped a three-game losing streak for Pittsburgh after his teammates were swept by the Chicago White Sox over the weekend. He also beat arguably the best team in baseball in the process, as Detroit entered play on Monday with MLB’s top record.
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Skenes lines up to face the Arizona Diamondbacks at home this weekend. He beat them the last time he faced them on May 28, so perhaps he’ll notch back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
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Featured image via Stephen Brashear/Imagn Images