Paul Skenes is coming off his second MLB win, a six-inning outing in opposition to the Detroit Tigers again on Could twenty ninth the place he allowed only a pair of runs within the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 10-2 win. However on Wednesday night time he confronted a a lot completely different problem, because the Pirates welcomed Shohei Ohtani and firm to PNC Park.
Within the first inning not less than, it was not a lot of a contest.
After Skenes struck out Mookie Betts to open the sport, utilizing three 100+ mph fastballs and a vicious slider, it was time for the primary assembly between the hard-throwing hurler and Ohtani.
Benefit, Skenes.
It didn’t take lengthy for Ohtani to make the identical stroll again to the dugout Betts did. Skenes delivered three-straight 100+ mph fastballs to the two-time American League MVP, and Ohtani swung and missed on all three:
Nonetheless, Skenes didn’t have the identical success the following time Ohtani dug into the field, within the high of the third.
With a runner on first base and two outs, Ohtani labored the rely full, letting a 100 mph fastball on the within nook go on a 2-2 rely for ball three. Skenes introduced the warmth as soon as extra, going upstairs with a 101 mph fastball.
Ohtani one way or the other managed to activate it:
To get his arms round and launch that fastball to lifeless middle? Simply unbelievable.
I feel I communicate for everybody once I recommend that these two go head-to-head at this yr’s All Star Sport.