Somehow, Paul Skenes is Getting Even Better

Photo provided by Eddie Provident PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes finished each of his first two big-leagues seasons with a sub-2. 00 ERA. But after an Opening Day start against the Mets in New York in which he allowed five runs two-thirds of an inning, it was going to be an uphill climb to try and go three for three to begin his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Here we are in mid May, a mere eight starts after his first of the season, and Skenes’ ERA is once again where it’s been for most of his big-league career. Skenes tossed eight-shutout innings against the Colorado Rockies in a 3-1 win at PNC Park on Tuesday night to lower his season ERA to 1. 98.

“I think I made pitches good enough to get outs throughout the night,” Skenes said following his outing. “I think some of my pitches weren’t as sharp as they normally have been but got them to good spots. ” Skenes carried a perfect game bid into the fifth inning and a no-hitter into the seventh.

He hit Tyler Johnston with a pitch with two outs in the fifth and allowed a one-out single to Mickey Moniak two innings later — two of the three batters to reach base against him on the night. Of the 24 outs he recorded, a season-high 10 were punch outs, the fourth double-digit strikeout game of his career. The right-hander was at 89 pitches through seven before heading back out for the eighth.