Paul Skenes Leads Pirates in Win Over Blue Jays

PITTSBURGH — Paul Skenes made his first start for the Pittsburgh Pirates in more than a month and showed exactly why he's the man for Opening Day

Skenes threw four scoreless innings for the Pirates in their 8-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. He allowed just one hit and issued three walks, while striking out the World Series runners-up five times.

The Pirates ace had spent most of the past three weeks away with Team USA, making three starts for them and two in the World Baseball Classic. His last start for the Pirates came back on Feb. 25 against the Atlanta Braves on Feb. 25, throwing just 2.1 innings.

Skenes worked out some issues early on, as he gave up a double to Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero and walked right fielder Addison Barger with two outs in the top of the first inning, but then got catcher Alejandro Kirk to fly out to end that scoring opportunity

He then walked consecutive Blue Jays batters with one out in the top of the third inning, but struck out both Guerrero and Barger to keep the road team scoreless.

Skenes struck out the side in the second inning and got two ground outs and a pop out to end the fourth inning and his outing after 65 pitches.

He relied mostly on his four-seam fastball, which didn't have the velocity it usually does, only topping out at 97.2 mph. He also utilized his curveball much more than normal, more so than any pitch besides the fastball

Skenes will make his next start on Opening Day vs. the New York Mets at Citi Field on March 26, where he'll look to start another campaign that ends in a Cy Young Award.

What Else Happened in the Pirates Win

The Pirates scored their first run off a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning, with left fielder Bryan Reynolds driving in center fielder Oneil Cruz.

First baseman Spencer Horwitz doubled the Pirates' lead with his first home run in Spring Training, hitting a four-seam fastball over the middle of the plate and sending it over the right field wall, making it a 2-0 game in the bottom of the fourth inning

Shortstop Alika Williams drove in another Pirates run via sacrifice fly in the same inning, scoring catcher Henry Davis to make it 3-0.

Williams hit an RBI-single in the bottom of the sixth inning and then Cruz hit a two-run home run right after, extending the Pirates' lead to five runs at 6-1.