He Did It! Paul Skenes Finishes Season With Sub-2.00 ERA, Sets Record in Pirates’ Win
CINCINNATI — In his last start of the season, Paul Skenes blanked the Cincinnati Reds across six innings – ensuring he’d finish the season with a sub-2.00 ERA – and set a franchise record for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 4-3 win at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday night.
How We Got There
Skenes capped off his dominant season with his 20th quality start of the season. His 1.97 ERA on the season is the lowest by a Pirate in the live ball era.
The right-hander settled into a nice groove out of the gate, retiring each of the first six batters he faced. He was able to escape on the rare occasions the Reds (80-78) threatened and sat down eight of the last nine batters he faced.
Skenes struck out seven batters, giving him 26 starts this season in which he struck out at least six batters, which is the most such starts by a Pirate since 1901.
Skenes left in line for the win, but the Reds overcame a two-run deficit to force extra innings. After the two teams traded runs in the 10th, Spencer Horwitz gave the Pirates (69-89) a 4-3 lead with a double in the 11th, and Yohan Ramirez escaped a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 11th to seal the win.
Key Moment
Paul Skenes came within inches of finishing the year with an ERA over 2.00. Tyler Stephenson led off the fifth inning with a double high off the center field fence. Skenes stranded Stephenson by retiring the next three batters, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.
Player of the Game
Stat to Know
By striking out Spencer Steer in the top of the second inning, Paul Skenes set the Pirates’ single-season record for strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher. After his outing, Skenes finished the season with 216 strikeouts. Mitch Keller was the previous record holder with 210, set in 2023.
Notable Performances
- Paul Skenes: 6.0 innings, four hits, no runs, no walks, seven strikeout, 85 pitches/57 strikes
- Spencer Horwitz: 3 for 5, two doubles, three RBI
- Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 3, one double, two Runs, one walk, one hit by pitch
Noteworthy
- Assuming Paul Skenes ends the season as MLB’s ERA leader, he will be the first Pirate to do so since John Candelaria (2.34) in 1977.
- The last qualified starting pitcher to finish the season with a sub-2.00 ERA was Justin Verlander (1.75) with the Houston Astros in 2022.
- Skenes became the first qualified pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA in his age-23 season since Dwight Gooden (1.53) in 1985.
- Oneil Cruz (left ankle discomfort) was replaced in center field in the ninth inning back Jack Suwinski following a collision with the outfield wall the inning before.
Up Next
RHP Braxton Ashcraft (4-3, 2.62 ERA) will get the ball for the Pirates in the series finale on Thursday afternoon. LHP Nick Lodolo (8-8, 3.44 ERA) goes for the Reds. First pitch: 12:40 p.m. ET.
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