Pirates' Paul Skenes Achieves Rare, Disappointing Stat

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes has dominated this season, but hasn't received the run support needed in his outings.

Skenes excelled against the Houston Astros at PNC Park on June 3, allowing just three hits, a walk and a solo home run, while posting eight strikeouts over 99 pitches in eight innings.

Despite his great play, the Pirates struggled offensively, as Astros right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. allowed just two hits and a walk over six innings and struckout seven batters.

The Pirates had just four hits in the game and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position, as the Astros won 3-0.

This isn't the first time Skenes has gone eight innings and lost, doing so vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 18.

He had a similar stat line, allowing just three hits, a walk and an earned run, while tying his season-high of nine strikeouts in the 1-0 defeat, serving as the first complete game of his career.

Skenes is one of just two pitchers this century, along with Hall of Fame right-hander Pedro Martinez who did so in 2000 with the Boston Red Sox, to lose two starts in the same season with eight or more innings pitched, one or zero runs allowed, one or zero walks allowed and eight strikeouts or more.