PITTSBURGH -- In all of Paul Skenes’ impressive achievements three years into his MLB career, he hasn’t won four straight games. Saturday night was a chance at another great feat.
Skenes recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts but allowed three runs in the fifth, exiting after 5 1/3 innings with the Pirates trailing the Cubs, 3-0. Isaac Mattson entered with two runners on in the sixth and allowed a double and a single to give Skenes five earned runs.
Pittsburgh went on to fall to the Cubs, 11-0, for its third straight loss, recording three or more losses in a row for the first time since losing in four consecutive games from June 5-9.
Skenes came into the matchup with Chicago on fire, recording a 2.45 ERA and three victories in his last three outings. His last start against the Guardians was his best of the summer, going seven innings and allowing only one run.
Against Chicago, Skenes gave up a leadoff single to star center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. PCA then took off for second, stealing despite Skenes stepping off and making a throw. Skenes stranded him on second, striking out two and inducing a flyout.
Skenes added two more strikeouts in the second inning, mixing six types of pitches against seven batters. He entered with a 2.77 ERA in eight starts versus the Cubs in his career, totaling 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
Skenes looked unlike himself in the third frame, walking No. 8 hitter Dansby Swanson on four pitches and making a two-base error in a pickoff attempt. He then hit the No. 9 hitter Miguel Amaya. With plenty against him, Skenes locked in and struck out two batters looking before forcing a flyout to escape the jam.
He came back in the fourth with three more strikeouts, using a slider, four-seam and sweeper on his punchout pitches. His fastball fluctuated all the way down to 93.9 mph, but Skenes was still as dominant as ever.
As his pitch count went over 100, Skenes lost command and grew tired. He allowed a single and a walk in the sixth and was pulled with one out at 105 pitches. Pittsburgh’s bullpen only made things worse, allowing six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings to create a blowout loss.
Saturday was a much-needed opportunity for the Pirates to have their ace be the stopper to a cold streak. Instead, Pittsburgh lost emphatically, and will have to avoid the sweep on Sunday.