In a highly anticipated matchup, Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates faced off against Max Fried of the Atlanta Braves. Skenes allowed a leadoff home run to Jarred Kelenic, marking the second straight game he has given up a homer to the first batter. Despite this, Skenes delivered a strong performance, pitching six innings with nine strikeouts, two walks, six hits, and one earned run. Fried also pitched six innings, allowing one run, three walks, six hits, and striking out four. The game remained tied at 1-1 through the seventh inning. Skenes' ERA now stands at 2.06. Kelenic had a standout game, reaching base three times with a homer, walk, and single. Skenes induced two double plays from Marcell Ozuna and struck out the side in his final frame.
Paul Skenes is talking to the broadcast and the Pirates have hit a pair of 2-run home runs 😂 https://t.co/Z0XgPfvS9D
Some people are saying it was Paul Skenes that brought the Pirates bats to life this afternoon. https://t.co/NSOwBHRQoC
The @Pirates have blasted TWO 2-run homers with Paul Skenes on the call! https://t.co/qwJNDfLlWB
Maybe the Pirates should mic up Paul Skenes more often? https://t.co/s7n2Zr8dsr
Outside of the Jarred Kelenic homer, Paul Skenes was a menace on the mound for the @Pirates yesterday (6IP 6H 1ER 2BB 9K). His sweeper, with 12.4" of horizontal break won our Starting Pitcher Pitch of the Day for June 29th https://t.co/Nbx7ciOB2F
The @Pirates' Paul Skenes has allowed a leadoff HR in each of his last 2 starts. He didn't allow another run after either one. He's the first pitcher in MLB history to allow a leadoff HR in back-to-back starts but pitch shutout baseball after each. https://t.co/Md8wyP1d7C
In each of his last 2 starts, Paul Skenes gave up a HR to the first batter. These are his stats after: 6/29 vs. ATL 6.0 IP 9K 0R 0ER 2BB 6 H 6/23 vs. TB 7.0 IP 8K 0R 0ER 1BB 5 H https://t.co/c39UqTFbVW
In each of his last 2 starts, Paul Skenes gave up a HR to the 1st batter. These are his stats after: 6/29 vs. ATL 6.0 IP 9K 0R 0ER 2BB 6 H 6/23 vs. TB 7.0 IP 8K 0R 0ER 1BB 5 H https://t.co/geNgIs6AhH
In each of his last 2 starts, Paul Skenes gave up a HR to the 1st batter. These are his stats after the HR: 6/29 vs. ATL 6.0 IP 9K 0R 0ER 2BB 6 H 6/23 vs. TB 7.0 IP 8K 0R 0ER 1BB 5 H https://t.co/ZE7hcQtwL1
In each of his last 2 starts, Paul Skenes gave up a HR to the first batter. These are his stats after the HR: 6/29 vs. ATL 6.0 IP 9K 0R 0ER 2BB 6 H 6/23 vs. TB 7.0 IP 8K 0R 0ER 1BB 5 H https://t.co/3b5QqRATSD
Paul Skenes did it again today, putting up a dominant performance against one of the best lineups in baseball And he may already be the best pitcher in the sport https://t.co/faIgmaWfW0
Paul Skenes strike out nine against Atlanta https://t.co/mWBYfrPake
It’s games like these that will stick out at the end of the season. For the second time this week, the Pirates wasted a quality start from Skenes. Had plenty of chances but couldn’t plate a second run.
Paul Skenes puts together another solid outing for the Pirates 🏴☠️ ✅ O 5.5 Hits Allowed ✅ U 2.5 Earned Runs ✅ U 2.5 Walks ✅ O 7.5 Total Strikeouts https://t.co/3aurw3lRGc
#Braves' Fried: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K (103/64) #PIrates' Skenes: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 HR. (102/61) It's 1-1 entering bottom of the 7th, after Pierce Johnson pitched a clean top of the 7th.
Paul Skenes' strikeouts: 1. 4-seamer (99 mph) 2. 4 (99) 3. Slider 4. Splinker 5. 4 (98) 6. 4 (98) 7. CV (9-pitch AB) 8. 4 (99 looking) 9. 4 (99) Ozuna, Olson & Riley: 1 for 9, 2 GIDP, 5 K
Good God, man. Paul Skenes strikes out the side to finish his outing in style. Four straight Ks, actually. Winds up with nine total. Last pitch was 99 mph past Travis d'Arnaud. The line: 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 13 whiffs, 102 pitches, 61 strikes, ERA now 2.06.
Paul Skenes has started 9 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates and has not left the game with his team trailing in any of them. Is that good? https://t.co/7MQjB7JMu6
Take a bow, Mr. Skenes. The big guy strikes out the side in his final frame of the day. Six innings, six hits, one run (the leadoff solo homer), a pair of walks and nine strikeouts. He had arguably his worst command as a big leaguer today and still delivered a quality start.
Skenes does have Ozuna's number. After getting him to bounce into a pair of double plays, the big guy strikes out the NL RBI leader on a 2-2 fastball to end the fifth inning. Score remains 1-1. https://t.co/QMUTgdHZBp
Kelenic has a homer, walk and single in three PAs today vs. Skenes. Reached on a one-out single in the fifth, but Albies grounded out and Ozuna struck out to strand Kelenic at second. It's still a 1-1 game through five innings.
Kelenic has Skenes' number today. He's reached base all three times. Homer, walk and now a single.
This is probably the most I've seen a lineup challenge Skenes. Atlanta is consistently taking him into deep counts and getting men on. Braves have runners on first and second with just one out again here in the fourth. Skenes is already over 60 pitches.
Exit velos of 109.3 mph + 106.2 mph = 2 GIDPs for Ozuna vs. Skenes
Wow. Skenes gets out of it again. Ozuna hits into his second double play of the game. This one strands the bases loaded. Nice play from Triolo to twist it. Braves still lead 1-0 as we move to the fourth.
Nice job by Paul Skenes settling it back down after the Kelenic homer. Bringing the four-seamer back into the zone. But also not over-relying on it. Note to Braves: Third base might not be the spot to target.
Jarred Kelenic leadoff ding dong off Skenes 👀 https://t.co/k3ulkaejcw
Well, that's a nice way to recover. Skenes surrendered a single to Albies following the homer and then went into a long battle against Ozuna. On the 10th pitch, he finally got the NL's RBI leader to bounce into a double play.
JARRED KELENIC (+675) LEADOFF HOME RUN OFF PAUL SKENES 💣 It’s the sixth home run Skenes has allowed in nine games this season. https://t.co/AL6IyCV7yO
JARED KELENIC LEADS OFF WITH A HOMER AGAINST SKENES!!!! https://t.co/fU1MRKQh04
Jarred Kelenic hits a lead off home run off Paul Skenes 💥 (via @Braves) https://t.co/oBOb7U32Gh
Mr. Skenes, meet the world's best leadoff hitter https://t.co/Y0WCcc4PgQ
Jarred Kelenic with a leadoff homer off of Paul Skenes! https://t.co/Xpj2SVj6GU
Kelenic homers on the third pitch from Skenes, pulls it to the right-field seats in front of the Chop House. It was 98.8 mph coming in, 101.8 mph going out. His second leadoff homer this season. Albies follows with a single through the infield.
Skenes allows a lead off homer for the second straight game. That one was hit much harder than the one he surrendered Sunday to Diaz. Kelenic connected on a high fastball. 1-0 Braves.
Max Fried has a 1.95 ERA since April 23. Paul Skenes has a 0.93 ERA in his last 3 starts. They will face off today at 4:10 PM ET in Atlanta! https://t.co/NPGSYncfYN
Terrific pitching matchup on deck Saturday in Atlanta, where #Braves' surging Max Fried will face Pirates flamethrowing phenom Paul Skenes https://t.co/CBuhmazyHV
#Braves' Jarred Kelenic, with three hits in each of today's doubleheader games, has raised his average to .282 and OPS to .780. His .916 OPS in the past 15 days is second-highest on the team to Riley's 1.205, and Kelenic's .879 in past 30 days is second on team to Ozuna's .914.