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5 hours ago
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The Pittsburgh Pirates are 15-32, and things keep getting worse. The team recently fired Derek Shelton and just wasted Paul Skenes' first career complete game.
Skenes was the National League Rookie of the Year last season and was named an All-Star as well. This season, he has a 2.44 ERA in 10 starts, but his last outing was his first career complete game. He threw eight innings, allowing just one run, against the Philadelphia Phillies. That one run, which came on an RBI groundout in the fifth inning, proved to be decisive.
Skenes has been a bright spot amid struggles for the team. He has a 2.52 ERA this month, but the Pirates have scored just seven runs combined in games he's started in that span. Skenes spoke on his outing after the 1-0 loss.
"Obviously, not everything is within my power," Skenes said after the game. "Not everything is within any other individual in here's power. That's how we get going a little bit. Just control what we can control on an individual level. That's been my focus. That's always been my focus. That's probably been a little bit more difficult this last month or so, but there's nowhere else to go but to keep going. Just got to keep going."
Skenes looks like an All-Star once again and was recently announced to be joining Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. Bryce Harper also complimented Skenes for his performance, noting how good he actually is.
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"It's real, man," Harper said of Skenes per MLB.com's Alex Stumph. "He's got good stuff. It's plus-plus. And, obviously, he is where he is because he's a really good guy and a really good pitcher. It's fun to watch."
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