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Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes started two World Baseball Classic games in the span of a week, and he won them both.
After dominating Mexico with four shutout innings during pool play on Monday, Skenes rose to the occasion again during Sunday night’s semifinal game against the Dominican Republic.
Despite facing a star-studded lineup featuring Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Manny Machado, Skenes allowed just one run on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.
By his own admission after the game, Skenes didn’t have his best stuff, allowing a solo homer to Junior Caminero in the bottom of the second and loading the bases in the fourth. He managed to escape the jam unscathed, however, before turning the game over to the bullpen in the fifth and leaving the mound to a standing ovation at LoanDepot Park.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner cooled off the DR’s sizzling bats that came into the contest averaging over 10 runs per game in the tournament. He also got some run support from Roman Anthony and Gunnar Henderson, both of whom launched solo homers in the top of the fourth to give Team USA the lead.
Skenes held it long enough to earn his second win of the tournament, finishing his first World Baseball Classic with a 2-0 record, a 1.08 ERA and nine strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.
While Skenes’ job is finished, Team USA’s isn’t. They’ll try to win the final on Tuesday and secure their first World Baseball Classic championship since 2017.
More Pirates: Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Shares Thoughts On Dominican Republic’s Loaded Lineup
The post Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Stifles DR, Propels USA To World Baseball Classic Final appeared first on SportsNet Pittsburgh.
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After dominating Mexico with four shutout innings during pool play on Monday, Skenes rose to the occasion again during Sunday night’s semifinal game against the Dominican Republic.
Despite facing a star-studded lineup featuring Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Manny Machado, Skenes allowed just one run on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.
By his own admission after the game, Skenes didn’t have his best stuff, allowing a solo homer to Junior Caminero in the bottom of the second and loading the bases in the fourth. He managed to escape the jam unscathed, however, before turning the game over to the bullpen in the fifth and leaving the mound to a standing ovation at LoanDepot Park.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner cooled off the DR’s sizzling bats that came into the contest averaging over 10 runs per game in the tournament. He also got some run support from Roman Anthony and Gunnar Henderson, both of whom launched solo homers in the top of the fourth to give Team USA the lead.
Skenes held it long enough to earn his second win of the tournament, finishing his first World Baseball Classic with a 2-0 record, a 1.08 ERA and nine strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings.
While Skenes’ job is finished, Team USA’s isn’t. They’ll try to win the final on Tuesday and secure their first World Baseball Classic championship since 2017.
More Pirates: Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Shares Thoughts On Dominican Republic’s Loaded Lineup
The post Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Stifles DR, Propels USA To World Baseball Classic Final appeared first on SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Continue reading...
