Paul Skenes Dominates Early Against Cubs But Pittsburgh Pirates Fall Short in Defensive Collapse

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes recorded 10 strikeouts in a dominant performance against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, yet the team lost 7-2 due to defensive miscues. Skenes fanned seven of his first eight batters faced and maintained an ERA below 3.00 despite the defeat.

Skenes' Dominant Start Overshadowed by Team Struggles

After a difficult stretch against Toronto over the weekend—where he surrendered four earned runs and allowed nine hits—Skenes recalibrated his approach at home. He struck out the side in the second inning, punching out both Alex Bregman and Seiya Suzuki with his sweeper. This marked the third time in his career he reached seven strikeouts through the first three innings, a feat he accomplished twice during his 2024 NL Rookie of the Year season.

Skenes' fastball reached 99 miles per hour, getting Pete Crow-Armstrong looking in the first inning, while his 89-mph changeup drew a whiff from Michael Busch. His efficient command kept the Cubs' offense largely off-balance through the early innings, but his effort went unrewarded by both his defense and lineup.

Defensive Breakdown Turns Pivotal in Sixth Inning

The decisive moment came in the sixth inning when two consecutive errors unraveled Skenes' strong outing. Third baseman Tyler Callihan, recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to cover for injured Konnor Griffin, made a throwing error that allowed Alex Bregman to reach base. One play later, fill-in shortstop Jared Triolo committed another errant throw on the very next batter, enabling the Cubs to extend their lead. Those miscues converted what should have been routine outs into runs scored, with Ian Happ reaching first base safely on the second error.

Skenes finished with three walks issued over his outing, alongside one infield single and a bloop single by Seiya Suzuki to left field that set the table for the Cubs' first run in the fourth inning. Only one of the three runs charged to Skenes was earned, highlighting how much the Pirates' fielding undermined his pitching.

Wider Impact on Divisional Standing

Despite the loss, Skenes' ERA dropped to 2.89 heading into June, reflecting his overall effectiveness this season. His record fell to 6-5. The Pirates (29-28) split the four-game series against the Cubs (31-26), who snapped a 10-game losing streak on Wednesday. The loss continued Pittsburgh's struggles to provide run support on the road, with the lineup managing only two runs in the defeat as the National League Central standings continue to shift.