PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pirates ace Paul Skenes had his worst start of his MLB career, in terms of earned runs allowed, as the Cardinals take the second game of the series 5-3 Tuesday night as it was 38 degrees at first pitch.
After a perfect first two innings with three strikeouts, Skenes gave up a lead-off single, following a strikeout, another single followed by a two-run triple form former West Virgina outfielder Victor Scott. Brendan Donovan brought Scott home with a two-out single and it’s 3-0 after 3.
Skenes said he missed over the plate a little more than usual, but he noted sometimes you get away with it and sometimes you don’t. He wouldn’t use the 30-degree temperatures as an excuse, saying the other pitchers dealt with it too. It said the ball was a little slicker, but you got to adjust.
“It looks like they had a pretty good approach off him tonight, but we normally don’t see him leave that many balls over the middle of the plate, especially up,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “I think that’s what got to him.”
Skenes said he missed over the plate a little more than usual, but he noted sometimes you get away with it and sometimes you don’t. He wouldn’t use the 30-degree temperatures as an excuse, saying the other pitchers dealt with it too. It said the ball was a little slicker, but you got to adjust.
“It looks like they had a pretty good approach off him tonight, but we normally don’t see him leave that many balls over the middle of the plate, especially up,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “I think that’s what got to him.”
Bryan Reynolds would cut the lead to 3-1 with a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning. Cardinals got two more off Skenes in the sixth, a double, walk and single to start the inning and two more runs scored. The righty’s final line-6 innings, 6 hits, 5 earned runs, one walk and 7 strikeouts. He threw 98 pitches, 63 for strikes.
Bucs managed only the Reynolds homer and a pair singles until the ninth inning when they opened with a single by Alexander Canario (his first hit with the Pirates) and double by Reynolds. Andrew McCutchen would pinch-hit and his groundout would score Canario for his 1,100th career RBI. Joey Bart would double home Reynolds to bring the tying run to the plate, but Tommy Pham lined out to right to end the game.
Bubba Chandler
· The Pirates top pitching prospect went four innings in AAA on Tuesday night allowing one hit, two walks and striking out eight. It’s now 12 strikeouts, two hits allowed in 6.2 innings this season.
Termarr Johnson
· The team’s fourth overall prospect hit his first home run of the season with AA Altoona.
Up Next
Right-hander Mitch Keller (1-1, 7.45 ERA) starts against RHP Erick Fedde (1-1, 7.00 ERA) in the final game of the homestand with the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 11:35a on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA.