Watch: Skenes gives up first first-inning run in his seventh start

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at PNC Park. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Paul Skenes gives up his first first-inning run in his seventh start

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Jun 17, 2024 9:01 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie righty Paul Skenes is a phenom and he's taken Major League Baseball by storm.

That's what happens when you have three legitimate punch-out pitches as a rookie, including a fastball that averaged 99.3 mph and whatever the heck this bat-demon out of hell is supposed to be:

Paul Skenes, Wicked 94mph Splinker. pic.twitter.com/EmPOnFslSa
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 17, 2024

Skenes is good. Real good.

It's not often a pitcher giving up a run could be considered a highlight for said pitcher. In fact, that probably has never happened in the history of baseball.

That said, the first first-inning run Skenes has given up this season is a more than notable highlight. Sure, good on the Cincinnati Reds for knocking him around a bit early, but even more impressive is the fact that it took Skenes seven games and 584 pitches to finally give up a run in the first inning.

There's a first time for everything.

Spencer Steer smacks a two-out RBI double to center field and gives the @Reds a 1-0 lead over the Pirates in the first inning. That was the first first-inning run allowed by rookie pitcher Paul Skenes since joining the Pirates in May. pic.twitter.com/vA8aTCr3Us
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) June 17, 2024

Like a knockout prize fighter, perhaps the only way to get to Skenes is to get to him early. If he's allowed to get any kind of momentum on the bump, he's proven to be absolutely unhittable.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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