Skenes Ks five as Pirates rout Yankees at LECOM
Paul Skenes didn’t get another showdown with Aaron Judge, but the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander got something almost as rare and just as valuable as the two-time AL MVP slugger: run support.
Paul Skenes didn’t get another showdown with Aaron Judge, but the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander got something almost as rare and just as valuable as the two-time AL MVP slugger: run support.
Skenes benefited from a big lead after the Pirates hit two home runs and five doubles in a 9-1 win over the New York Yankees in a Grapefruit League game Tuesday afternoon at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.
In his first home start of spring training, Skenes recorded five strikeouts while allowing one run on four hits and two walks. He threw 44 of his 74 pitches for strikes, averaging 98.2 mph on a four-seam fastball that touched 99.9 on the radar gun.
It was Skenes’ first chance to pitch at LECOM Park since the inaugural Spring Breakout last March, but there wouldn’t be a rematch of the 2024 All-Star Game without Judge in the Yankees’ lineup.
“It’s been awesome. I wish I didn’t give up a run, but it happens,” Skenes told Hannah Mears in an interview on SportsNet Pittsburgh. “It’s cool. It’s kind of a sobering thing to look in the stands, look up in the bullpen and have people watching me warm up, to watch me basically go out there and play a practice game where I’m not worried about results. It’s different, but it’s a blessing, for sure.”
Skenes retired the side in the first inning. He was impressive in striking out Anthony Volpe, rebounding from a 2-0 count by getting him to foul off a pair of fastballs just a tick below 100 mph and to chase a 90.1 mph sinker.
In the second inning, Skenes got a pair of called third strikes on Trent Grisham and Pablo Reyes. Skenes allowed a pair of full-count walks around a bloop single in the third, then picked off Volpe at first base and struck out Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a 98.7 mph four-seamer.
Skenes relied on his best weapons, throwing 17 splinkers and 12 sweepers while mixing in eight changeups and a slider to draw 35 swings, 11 whiffs, nine called strikes and 14 fouls.
“I’ve learned how to use my pitches, where to throw them, when to throw them, all of that. The stuff hasn’t changed a ton. It’s just how I know my stuff and how I’m using it,” said Skenes, adding that his cutter remains a work in progress. “Throw more strikes. I’ve got to get ahead of guys and put them away. That will come with time. That’s the only thing, in terms of shapes and really command, too. It’s all there. It’s just about fine-tuning it all.”
The Pirates built a cushion for Skenes in a four-run third. Billy Cook led off with a 369–foot shot to right field for his first home run of spring training. Ji Hwan Bae followed by hitting a grounder through the middle and sprinting for a double, and Adam Frazier drew a full-count walk to set the stage for Oneil Cruz.
Cruz, who was 3 for 20 with two home runs and 11 strikeouts, fouled off two pitches before crushing a sinker over the middle of the plate 385 feet — at an exit velocity of 114.9 mph — for a three-run homer and 4-0 lead.
Skenes allowed his lone run when Grisham led off the fourth by sending a 1-0 fastball 356 feet over the rightfield fence for a home run to cut it to 4-1. Skenes hit Everson Pereira with a pitch and surrendered a single to Pablo Reyes but recovered to get Spencer Jones to swing at a 99.3 mph fastball and Ismael Munguia to fly out to center.
“He’s, obviously, focused. Everybody sees it,” Pirates catcher Joey Bart told SportsNet Pittsburgh. “For me, sometimes, it’s like trying to dumb it down a little bit and just let him be who he is. That’s what I told him. I said, ‘Hey, man, we’re going to go right after guys. We’re going to use your best stuff and see what happens.’ Other than a solo homer, he threw the ball really well. Good start for him. Good to see him get a couple quick outs. At the end of the day, everybody is going to be coming for him, and he loves that. He embraces it. I think it’s something that comes with who he is and what he does.”
The Pirates piled on with four doubles in the fourth, starting with one by DJ Stewart, and a full-count walk by Cook. The Yankees replaced starter Cam Schlittler with Sean Boyle, only for Bae to double to right-center to drive in Stewart and raise his batting average to .455 (10 for 22). Frazier hit a sharp grounder down the right-field line for a two-run double and 7-1 lead. After Cruz was hit by a pitch, Nick Gonzales added a two-run double to center to make it 9-1.
Notes: The Pirates are off Wednesday. … Lefty Bailey Falter is scheduled to start against Bailey Ober when the Pirates visit the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers.
