Current:Home > InvestPaul Skenes blew away Shohei Ohtani in their first meeting. The two-time MVP got revenge. -FundSphere
Paul Skenes blew away Shohei Ohtani in their first meeting. The two-time MVP got revenge.
View
Date:2025-04-14 08:31:28
Paul Skenes and Shohei Ohtani exchanged greetings on the baseball field in a manner befitting the hardest-throwing phenom and the greatest two-way talent in the game.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie making his fifth career start, blew away Ohtani on three pitches — 101.3, 100.1 and 100.8 mph — that the Los Angeles Dodgers star swung and whiffed at in their first encounter Wednesday night at PNC Park.
But the two-time MVP didn't need more than two tries to welcome Skenes to the big leagues.
Ohtani turned around a 100-mph fastball in the third inning, sending it 415 feet and over the fence in straightaway center field for his 15th home run, showing the rookie that it's not so easy to slip pure heat by the Dodgers DH.
Yet it's one of a precious few mistakes Skenes made in Wednesday's 10-6 triumph, as he picked up his third win in five outings, striking out eight Dodgers in five innings.
Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.
Oh, Ohtani got him again, singling to right in the fifth to put two runners on in a 7-3 game. But Ohtani's single was sandwiched by Skenes punchouts against the other MVPs in L.A.'s lineup. He caught Mookie Betts looking on a full-count 100-mph fastball on the outside corner, and Freddie Freeman on a 0-2 fastball that dotted the bottom of the zone at 99 mph.
After a Will Smith single loaded the bases, Skenes induced a groundout from Teoscar Hernandez and exited with a 7-3 lead. The Pirates went on to claim their second consecutive win over the NL West-leading Dodgers.
Skenes is still less than a year removed from the Pirates selecting him No. 1 overall from LSU, yet his resume remains nearly spotless. He has 38 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched and a 3.00 ERA, and the Pirates are 4-1 in his starts. He walked just one on Wednesday, bringing his strikeout-to-walk ratio to 38-to-6.
Now, add another bullet point to that list: A split decision against the game's greatest talent.
veryGood! (28)
Related
- USA women's basketball live updates at Olympics: Start time vs Nigeria, how to watch
- People are supporting 'book sanctuaries' despite politics: 'No one wants to be censored'
- SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year
- Tom Brady Shares “Best Part” of His Retirement—And It Proves He's the MVP of Dads
- Louisiana high court temporarily removes Judge Eboni Johnson Rose from Baton Rouge bench amid probe
- Jury awards $300 million to women who alleged sex abuse by doctor at a Virginia children’s hospital
- After 20 years and a move to Berlin, Xiu Xiu is still making music for outsiders
- Court revives lawsuit of Black pastor who was arrested while watering his neighbor’s flowers
- RFK Jr. grilled again about moving to California while listing New York address on ballot petition
- NY judge denies governor’s bid to toss suit challenging decision to halt Manhattan congestion fee
Ranking
- Small twin
- Helene wreaking havoc across Southeast; 33 dead; 4.5M in the dark: Live updates
- Micah Parsons left ankle injury: Here's the latest on Dallas Cowboys star defender
- 'Mighty strange': Tiny stretch of Florida coast hit with 3 hurricanes in 13 months
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Indianapolis man sentenced to 189 years for killing 3 young men found along a path
- Where Trump and Harris stand on immigration and border security
- SpaceX launches rescue mission for 2 NASA astronauts who are stuck in space until next year
Recommendation
'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
Christine Sinclair to retire at end of NWSL season. Canadian soccer star ends career at 41
Woman loses over 700 pounds of bologna after Texas border inspection
Naomi Campbell Banned as Charity Trustee for 5 Years After Spending Funds on Hotels, Spas and Cigarettes
Kehlani Responds to Hurtful Accusation She’s in a Cult
Joe Wolf, who played for North Carolina and 7 NBA teams, dies at 59
Micah Parsons left ankle injury: Here's the latest on Dallas Cowboys star defender
Micah Parsons injury update: Cowboys star to undergo MRI on ankle after being carted off