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NY Post
New York Post
6 Jun 2024


NextImg:Paul Skenes impressively whiffs Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts — before Ohtani gets his revenge

Paul Skenes has made several great starts early in his big career as one of the most hyped young pitchers in baseball.

However, on Wednesday, he may have made his best yet for the Pirates.

To open up his outing against the star-studded Dodgers, Skenes, 22, started out strong versus the top of the order, striking out Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts on a combined seven pitches.

Skenes got Betts on four pitches — two of them over 100 mph — before fanning Ohtani on three straight 100-plus mph heaters in an impressive sequence.

Paul Skenes delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at PNC Park. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

After being in attendance for Ohtani’s then-home pitching debut for the Angels in 2018, Skenes got the best of the Japanese superstar six years later in Pittsburgh, according to MLB.

However, Ohtani got back at Skenes in the top of the third inning with a home run, knocking in Betts in the process, to pull the Dodgers within five runs.

According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, the 100.1 mph pitch Ohtani homered on was the fastest pitch the slugger has ever hit over the fence in the big leagues.

Skenes debuted on May 11 against the Cubs after dominating in the minor leagues, where he held an 0.99 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 27 1/3 innings on the Pirates’ Triple-A squad in Indianapolis.

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) is greeted by third base coach Dino Ebel after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates.
Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani (17) is greeted by third base coach Dino Ebel after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates. AP

Wednesday marked Skenes’ fifth start in the majors, and after five innings against Los Angeles, his ERA sat at 3.00 with 38 strikeouts in 27 innings.