PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Making his second career start and first on the road, 2023 first-overall pick Paul Skenes struck out the side in each of the first two innings, plus one at Wrigley Field on Friday afternoon.
The Pirates righty threw a ball for his first pitch of the game and then three straight strikes to Mike Tauchman, foul tipping a 100.3 mile-an-hour fastball. Ian Happ worked a full count, but was called out on a 100.1 mph strike. Then big-money, free agent first baseman Cody Bellinger struck out on three pitches, the last over 100 miles-an-hour.
In the second inning, six pitches to get Christopher Morel swinging. Michael Busch fouled off six pitches before being fooled on an 87.9 mile-an-hour slider and then Miles Mastrobuoni took a called strike three at 101.2 mph.
Nick Madrigal fouled off five, before a 99.2 mile-an-hour strikeout. It wasn’t until Pete Crow-Armstrong rolled one to first that the Cubs put a ball in play. Miguel Amaya also grounded out as Skenes was perfect through three innings with seven strikeouts.
In his major league debut last Saturday at PNC Park, the 21-year-old Skenes gave up six hits, three runs, two walks and seven strikeouts over four innings.