CINCINNATI -- To Paul Skenes, rebounding from his shortest career outing was about one thing -- and one thing only -- execution. To his manager, it was all about the drive and competitiveness of his right-handed ace.
All three were on full display Wednesday, as Skenes threw five strong innings and recorded his first win of 2026 in an 8-3 victory over the Reds before 15,007 at Great American Ball Park.
After allowing five runs on four hits, walking two and hitting a batter while retiring just two batters last Thursday, Skenes (1-1) allowed just one run on three hits, striking out five and walking two. He tossed 77 pitches (51 strikes) and lowered his season ERA from 67.50 to 9.53.
“Still a work in progress but nice to give some volume and be out there for more than two-thirds of an inning,” Skenes said with tongue firmly in cheek.
“Paul after five was really pitch-related,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “When you’re going off of one [game] and 37 pitches [in New York], we really targeted 80-ish for him. We need Paul for the long haul, and he did a great job getting through five. As we go, he’s going to be throwing more than five and 77.”
Still, Skenes had to find his rhythm after an opening walk to TJ Friedl, something Skenes said he was never really too concerned about.
“Had to get the first batter out of the way, I guess. Felt pretty good. Felt good in the bullpen. Felt good throughout the game,” Skenes said. “Not a huge concern there.”
“Yeah, he’s such a competitor and, with the way he gets after it, he has that unique ability. Even with that leadoff walk, he dials it back in and gets back in the zone, it’s really impressive,” Kelly said.
One of the reasons Wednesday was important is that it ends any speculation that Skenes was having lingering effects from pitching in the World Baseball Classic.
“Just remembering what’s real and what isn’t real, I guess. Nothing matters except for the play. Nothing matters except for the game,” Skenes said. “I’m pretty insulated from a lot of stuff that’s out there. The stuff that I do see or hear, I don’t really care anyway, because it doesn’t have anything to do with the play. Throughout the week, basically just thinking about getting back to execution and executing my pitches. That’s it.”
Instead of talking at length about a five-inning outing, Skenes got much more joy acknowledging that he sent teammate Jake Mangum a birthday cake at Pirate City after Mangum complained that he didn’t want to celebrate his birthday on March 8. Mangum was within earshot of Skenes’ postgame media scrum and promised payback. One problem: He didn’t even know Skenes’ birthday, which is May 29, for the record.
Mangum guessed May 26 and then just said, "Late May." Skenes was not impressed. “That’s embarrassing. You got it wrong, twice.”
Skenes was all right Wednesday. He left with a 4-1 lead thanks to an Oneil Cruz three-run homer off Cincinnati starter Andrew Abbott (0-1) in the first.
“Makes it real easy to pitch when he hits another one like he did [Tuesday]. Makes it even easier. It’s been fun to watch,” Skenes said.
Abbott settled down and didn’t allow another run until Pittsburgh added one in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk. Connor Phillips was on the mound, but it was charged to Abbott.
Skenes didn’t give up a hit until Elly De La Cruz swatted a 90.1 mph changeup to right field for a single to open the bottom of the fourth. After Sal Stewart’s grounder moved De La Cruz to second, Nathaniel Lowe doubled him home, snapping Skenes’ scoreless streak against Cincinnati at 31 innings, dating to his first career start against the Reds on June 17, 2024.
Skenes is now 5-0 in six career starts against the Reds, allowing two runs in 34 career innings for a 0.53 ERA.
“With Skenes on the mound, you hate to give them anything early because you know you’re going to be fighting for everything you can get,” said Reds manager Terry Francona.
Mason Montgomery relieved Skenes to start the sixth, and allowed a pinch-hit two-run homer to Eugenio Suárez as the Reds cut the Pirates’ lead to one run. But Isaac Mattson, Justin Lawrence and Gregory Soto finished off the final 3 1/3 innings for Pittsburgh’s first series victory of the season.