Paul Skenes sets Pirates' rookie record for strikeouts, guides club to win against Marlins

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes sets Pirates’ rookie record for strikeouts, guides club to win against Miami Marlins

It took all of two batters for Paul Skenes to set a new franchise record for strikeouts by a Pirates rookie since 1900.

It took six sublime innings, though, for Skenes to further endear himself to Monday night’s crowd at PNC Park, which rewarded his exploits with a standing ovation. As the rookie phenom waltzed back to the Pirates’ dugout after recording his 18th and final out in a 3-2 victory against the Marlins, Skenes held out his glove with a game ball in it so a young fan in the front row could head home with a souvenir.

Skenes entered his 20th career MLB start with all sorts of impressive figures backing him. The 6-foot-6 right-hander came into the contest with a 2.13 ERA, and needed just one more strikeout to best Cy Blanton’s franchise record by a rookie that was set in 1935.

After allowing an infield single to commence the contest, Skenes responded by pumping three straight fastballs past Miami’s Connor Norby for the record-setting strikeout. The heater was clocked at 100.1 mph, one of six pitches by Skenes to top triple digits.

But, as has frequently been the case during the 22-year-old’s spectacular season, he provided more than just eye-popping numbers on the radar gun. While five of his nine strikeouts came on fastballs, Skenes produced two more with his changeup. His splinkler induced a timely swing-and-miss, too, as did Skenes’ scintillating slider.

The Marlins did manage a run against the former No. 1 overall pick, though, thanks to Jesus Sanchez leading off the fourth with a double and coming around on a two-out single. That’s as much as the visitors could muster, though, as the Pirates improved their perfect record against the Marlins this season to 5-0.

Skenes didn’t do it on his own, since the Pirates built a sizable enough lead by pushing across three runs in the first two innings. Yet whenever he toed the rubber, Skenes was in command, and only further validated his argument for what figures to be a tight race for Rookie of the Year in the National League.

At the very least, Skenes has accomplished in 20 starts what no other Pirates rookie ever has before thanks to his prowess for the punchout.

On the mound

After Skenes departed, manager Derek Shelton turned to Colin Holderman. The right-hander tossed a scoreless seventh, meaning he has yet to give up an earned run since being activated from the injured list.

Dennis Santana continued his string of brilliance in the following frame by striking out a pair. The only ball put in play was a relatively feeble groundout to shortstop. Santana has not given up a run since August 6.

Aroldis Chapman yielded a run in the ninth, but the veteran left-hander ultimately locked down his seventh save of the season.

At the plate

Oneil Cruz gave the Pirates a lead they would not relinquish when he cranked a no-doubt home run to straight-away center in the bottom of the first. The solo shot marked Cruz’s first home run since August 9, and second since July 28.

Then in the ensuing frame, Bryan Reynolds added two tallies to his team-best RBI total with two away in the second. Reynolds turned on a cutter over the heart of the plate to sneak a single through the right side of the infield and score Alika Williams and Nick Gonzales, the former of whom reached on an error and the latter doubled to continue a needed rally.

Up next

Tuesday: Marlins at Pirates, 6:40 p.m. ET, PNC Park

Probable pitchers: TBD for Pirates; RHP Adam Oller (1-2, 4.15) for Marlins

Key matchup: Oller has never faced the Pirates before, and has compiled a 2.65 ERA in his last three MLB appearances.

Hidden stat: Billy Cook became the first Pirates first baseman with multiple hits in his MLB debut since Alex Hernandez on Sept. 1, 2000. He also became the third different player to start at first base for the Pirates this season.

Wednesday: Marlins at Pirates, 12:35 p.m., PNC Park

Probable pitchers: LHP Bailey Falter (7-7, 4.45) for Pirates; TBD for Marlins

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