Skenes pitches with poise through pressure in WBC spotlight, treats it same as Pirates outings
MIAMI (AP) — Paul Skenes pitched with poise through pressure, dispatching a series of stars on a night of great stakes in a sold-out stadium with millions watching on TV. This was the type of game he never sees with the Pittsburgh Pirates and he may not experience on a regular basis until 2030. Skenes dominated the Dominican Republic's lineup of All-Stars for 4 1/3 innings in the America's 2-1 semifinal victory Sunday night, allowing his only run when Junior Caminero hit a go-ahead home run in the second on a 1-2 sweeper at the top of the strike zone.
“The D. R. is the toughest lineup I’ve ever faced, for sure,” Skenes said.
The NL Cy Young Award winner last year in his first full season at age 23, Skenes mixed six pitches among 71 offerings that included a fastball averaging 97. 6 mph. He allowed six hits and finished the tournament 2-0 with a 1.
08 ERA and a . 226 opponents batting average. “You can make the argument he’s the best pitcher in the game,” U.
S. manager Mark DeRosa said. “Special presence, special man, wants the moment, wasn’t too big for him.