Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander Paul Skins (22) delivered another stellar pitching performance.

Skins started the game against the Atlanta Braves on Monday (March 30) at Tristate Park in Atlanta, Georgia, allowing one run on six hits (one home run) with two walks and nine strikeouts in six innings of work.

Facing leadoff hitter Jared Kellenick in the bottom of the first, Skins threw a 98.4 mph (158.4 km/h) three-seam fastball for a leadoff solo home run. The pitch sailed high in the center field seats and Kelenic couldn’t miss. Kelenic’s ninth home run of the season hit 101.8 mph (163.8 km/h) and traveled 367 feet (112 meters).

After the home run, the Skins seemed to regain their composure and continued their dominance. He gave up a single to Aji Alvis but induced a 5-4-3 double play to Marcell Osuna and struck out Matt Olson on a wild pitch to end the inning. The second inning ended with a triple play.

In the top of the third, the Skins got a leadoff single from Orlando Arcia and walked Kelenic and Albies to load the bases, but Osuna induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat. In the top of the fourth, Austin Riley and Travis d’Arnaud gave up back-to-back singles, but Forrest Wall struck out swinging and Adam Duvall grounded out to first base.

After a leadoff walk to Kelenic in the top of the sixth,

Skins got Albies to ground into a double play and Osuna to ground into a foul tip. In the bottom of the sixth, Olson-Riley-Dano retired the next three batters in order in center field. With the score tied 1-1 in the seventh, she was replaced by Carmen Mozinski to finish the night. 에볼루션 바카라사이트 Pittsburgh lost the game 1-2 in extra innings.

Skins is a highly touted prospect who joined Pittsburgh as a first-round (No. 1) pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft. In his big league debut this year, he is 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA in nine games (52 1/3 innings). He has struck out 70 batters with his hard fastball and sharp changeup. His strikeout rate is 12.04 per nine innings.

According to MLB.com, “Skins overcame an error by Kelenic in the first inning to hold him to one run over six innings. It was the second time in as many games that Skins allowed a leadoff homer and retired the rest of the game without allowing a run.” Kelenic, who hit the leadoff home run for the Skins, said, “Everybody knows what they’re made of. I came in with a game plan. I was trying to be aggressive with pitches that were in the strike zone, especially fastballs, in fast counts, and I just got the timing right. He’s got great stuff and he’s going to be an absolute superstar.”

Skins, who threw 102 pitches,

Used a mix of pitches against the Atlanta lineup, including a splitter (34), four-seam (31), curve (20), slider (14), and changeup (3). His fastball touched 99 mph (159.3 km/h). Considering he’s topped out at 101.9 mph (164.0 km/h) this season, his fastball wasn’t as strong as it usually is.

“It was a good outing,” said a smiling Skins, “but you always have to battle the heat and humidity. My pitches didn’t go where I wanted them to. It was a little bit of a struggle,” he said of his outing. Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said, “It’s going to be a learning moment for him. He only gave up one run. He just gave up a leadoff home run against an All-Star caliber lineup. I’m really impressed with the adjustments he made in the game,” Shelton said, looking forward to seeing what the Skins can do next.