Skenes struck out 11 batters through seven frames and 99 total pitches, but was removed six-outs short of a historic day.
In his 11th career start, Paul Skenes dominated the Milwaukee Brewers through seven no-hit innings. It was an unreal sight to watch.
The Pittsburgh Pirates and manager Derek Shelton pulled Skenes after 99 pitches and a career-tying 11 strikeouts.
Shelton told the media, including SportsNet Pittsburgh, that he doesn’t think it was a tough choice to remove Skenes from the game and stands by his decision.
“Not at all. He was tired,” Shelton said. “It didn’t have anything to do with the pitch count. Everybody makes it about the pitch count; it was about where he was at.”
Skenes still had six outs to go to finish the no-no. The outing would have marked the seventh no-hitter in Pirates history, the first since Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon combined to no-hit the Houston Astros at Three Rivers Stadium on July 12th, 1997, 27 years ago, tomorrow.
Skenes threw 61 pitches through three innings, which blossomed to a more favorable 93 after six. He’s thrown as many as 107 pitches this season. That start came during his last appearance six days ago against the Mets at PNC Park as the Pirates throttled New York 14-2.
The 22-year-old righty is the first player in MLB history to be drafted No. 1 overall and make the All-Star Game the following season.
How did Shelton know it was time?
“Trusting your eyes. Trusting him,” Shelton said. “When I went and talked to him after that, he was tired.”
Many Pirates fans and national observers stated on social media how their eyes said otherwise. Obviously, being in the dugout and talking to Skenes tells a different and more direct story. Skenes wanted to finish the job, but understands why he was pulled from the game.
“Definitely wanted to finish it,” Skenes told the media. “Throwing every five, six days, whatever it is now, I definitely understand that side of it.”
Colin Holderman entered the eighth and immediately allowed a base hit.
Shelton said the Brewers did a good job of wearing Skenes down, and the righty “ gave everything he had.” Shelton made his decision based on various factors.
“I think the stuff and just how his body was reacting. Even after the sixth, we could tell he was getting a little bit tired,” Shelton said. “I think it’s the first time we’ve seen it, the volume he’s had… It was very impressive. He did a nice job.”
Skenes didn’t realize he had a no-hitter until late in his outing.
“Not until like the sixth or seventh inning,” Skenes said. “I thought about it and then got it out of my mind. It didn’t really matter because it was a 0-0 ballgame, then a 1-0 ballgame. Just about getting outs.”
He said he’s never thrown a no-hitter in his career. Not even in Little League. Skenes also mentioned “it would be cool” to be the All-Star Game starter and hasn’t thought about it much.
In 11 big league outings, Skenes has allowed 48 hits and only 13 walks, spanning 66.1 innings and 89 strikeouts. If eligible based on innings pitched, Skenes would own the lowest ERA in the majors (1.90) and earned a .202 opponent average before the All-Star Game.