CINCINNATI - Paul Skenes has usually had the Cincinnati Reds figured out, but this latest meeting went sideways fast.
The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander was tagged for five runs in just four innings in an 8-7 loss at Great American Ball Park on July 31, one of the rougher outings he’s had this season. Cincinnati got to him early, ran up his pitch count, and forced him out after 99 pitches. Rookie right-hander Antwone Kelly took over in the fifth inning and kept Pittsburgh in the game.
Skenes was honest about where it went wrong. He said he needed time to settle into his delivery, but that the process dragged on far longer than it should have.
"I mean it took pretty much an inning to find my delivery, which happens," Skenes said. "Usually it doesn't look that bad in the first inning, but yeah, just pretty sloppy all around."
That first inning set the tone. Skenes allowed two runs and threw 35 pitches, a huge number for a single frame.
He said he started to feel better about his pitch sequencing in the second inning, and he did record six strikeouts over the next three innings. But the damage kept coming anyway.
The Reds also got him for two home runs: a solo shot by left fielder JJ Bleday that tied the game at 3-3, and a two-run blast from first baseman Sal Stewart that pushed Cincinnati ahead 5-3.
Overall, Skenes gave up 11 batted ball events, allowed seven hits, and surrendered seven hard-hit balls. Four of those hard hits came off his four-seam fastball, and two came against his sinker.
Pittsburgh had a chance to steal the game after going up 7-5 in the eighth, but the bullpen and defense let that lead slip away. Still, the outing from Skenes didn’t help the Pirates’ cause.
July was a mixed bag for the Pirates ace. He went 3-2 with a 6.25 ERA across 31.2 innings, while striking out 42 and walking 12. He also allowed a .296 batting average and posted a 1.55 WHIP.
The month opened with one of the worst starts of his career, when he gave up eight runs, seven earned, in a 10-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 1 at Citizens Bank Park. After that, he had three strong starts before back-to-back rough ones, including a five-run outing in 5.1 innings against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on July 25.
Even with the ugly performance against Cincinnati, Skenes didn’t label the entire month a disaster. His bigger concern was the lack of consistency in his command and the contact he’s been allowing.
"I mean, I think today was extreme," Skenes said. "Today was just straight up the sloppiest outing of the year for me.
I think, other than that, probably haven't been getting ahead in counts enough. You know, walking guys, giving up contact when I don't really want to be giving up contact at times.
"But up until today, I think I've viewed the past month or so as me throwing the ball pretty well, even though it doesn't look like it at all, really. So, yeah, the month as a whole, I don't think has been terrible. Today was pretty terrible."
With the Pirates in the thick of the National League Wild Card race and a little less than two months left, they need Skenes to look like himself again. He sounds confident that the reset is coming quickly, with his next start only a few days away.
"I think it helps that I'll get to do it again in five days," Skenes said. "It's been an interesting year, a little bit, but it could be a lot worse.
We'll figure it out. I'm gonna figure it out, but it could be a lot worse."
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