PITTSBURGH – Skenes Struggles Against the Cardinals
Paul Skenes possesses undeniable talent, yet the St. Louis Cardinals have consistently found success against the reigning National League Rookie of the Year. In a 5-3 triumph at PNC Park on Tuesday, the Cardinals became the only team to defeat Skenes twice this season, loading him up with a career-worst five earned runs and six hits, thus ending a four-game losing streak.
Cardinals’ Approach to Hitting Skenes
Pedro Pagés, the Cardinals’ catcher, shared insights on their strategy, stating, “I’m not sure if it’s simply seeing the ball well off Skenes, but we compete hard against him and adhere to our game plan.” He added that their consistent good at-bats against Skenes over the last two seasons have made a significant difference. “It’s about executing our plan and seeing what unfolds,” he mentioned, reflecting on their successful approach.
Skenes Faces Setbacks
Skenes, an All-Star Game starter and a Cy Young Award contender finishing third in 2024, struggled notably, giving up three runs in the third inning along with two additional runs in the sixth before he exited the game. This performance marked the first time since August 10, 2024, that Skenes allowed five earned runs in a game.
Keeping Perspective
Despite the challenging outing, Skenes remained calm, stating, “It’s not something I’m going to lose sleep over. At this point, they’ve seen me multiple times, and it’s just the nature of the game. They executed better than I did today, and I have to commend them for that.”
Cardinals’ Consistent Offense
The Cardinals, known for being the only team able to score four or more runs in every game thus far, showcased their offensive power with Victor Scott II and Brendan Donovan contributing two extra-base hits and multiple hits, respectively. Their current streak of scoring four runs spans 11 consecutive games, nearing the National League record of 12 set by the 1954 Cardinals.
Confident Offense
Scott II expressed enthusiasm about the Cardinals’ dynamic lineup, noting, “Our offense has a wealth of talent and speed. When we’re all performing well and adhering to our approach, we can be a formidable force.” Donovan echoed this sentiment, highlighting their team-oriented offensive strategy, which requires execution on the players’ part, a task they accomplished successfully that night.
Aggressiveness Pays Off
The Cardinals capitalized on Skenes with three earned runs in the third inning, initiated by singles from Pagés and Masyn Winn, followed by a triple from Scott, who excelled by taking calculated risks on the bases. Manager Oliver Marmol praised Scott’s confidence and willingness to go for extra bases as a sign of his developing maturity.
