INDIANAPOLIS -- The anticipation around Paul Skenes and his inevitable call-up to Pittsburgh builds every time he touches the baseball within the Pirates' farm system, and he turned up the gas in his second Class AAA start for Indianapolis Friday at Victory Field.
In three innings, he held Memphis scoreless while allowing one hit, walking a batter, and striking out six. He threw 44 pitches and 32 for strikes while painting corners with ease. Of the 27 fastballs Skenes threw, 13 touched 100 mph. His fastball topped at 101.3 mph. in the second inning, and the average velocity of his four-seam fastball was 99.8 mph.
Skenes picked up exactly from where he left his first Class AAA start March 30 at Louisville. He struck out the side on 12 pitches to begin the game and did so with vigor. Nine of his pitches were thrown for strikes and all three strikeouts were recorded via swings at 100 mph. fastballs just above the strike zone. He mixed in three sliders and one curveball in that first inning. Two sliders and one curveball were taken for balls low and outside of the zone.
Skenes' second inning Friday was his toughest in his five Class AAA innings to that point. He allowed a leadoff single to Luken Baker and Alfonso Rivas reached on a fielder's choice that saw Baker get thrown out at second base. Skenes had to cover first base on the play, but Liover Piguero's throw over didn't make it in time. Skenes struck out Jared Young looking at a 100.4 mph. fastball on the inside corner before Jose Fermin battled him for a 10-pitch walk. Skenes responded by striking out Matt Koperniak on three fastballs, all at 99.7 mph. or faster.
His third inning was much more calm. Skenes retired Memphis in order and added a looking strikeout from Thomas Saggese on a 100.5 mph. fastball on the outside corner to conclude his day.
Here is a chart of Skenes' day, sorted by highest pitch velocity first:
Through two Class AAA starts, Skenes has allowed zero runs on one hit in 6.0 innings. He has walked one and struck out 11 while throwing 90 pitches and 61 for strikes.
Much more to come from Indianapolis.
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