Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivered a flawless opening inning at Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game, striking out several of the American League’s best hitters, including star slugger Aaron Judge. Skenes retired the side in order, highlighting his growing reputation on the biggest stage.
Key Moments and Player Matchups Define Opening Frame
In his first inning, Skenes struck out Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene consecutively, then induced a ground out from Judge to complete a perfect inning. This highly anticipated duel between Skenes and Judge was a focal point, given Judge’s five-time All-Star status and potential third MVP honor versus Skenes’ rising star power.
Skenes’ early dominance helped position the National League to capitalize offensively, as they scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. Ketel Marte’s double drove in Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr., contributing crucial runs against AL starter Tarik Skubal.
Significance of Skenes’ Performance and What’s Next
Skenes’ commanding start affirmed his status among MLB’s elite pitchers and set a competitive tone for the game. His success against top-tier opponents like Judge signals that this matchup could develop into a notable rivalry in future All-Star contests. Meanwhile, the NL’s ability to generate runs early underscores the intensity of this classic AL vs. NL showdown.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did anyone pull the Paul Skenes?
A. The family first reached out to Fanatics Collect on January 2. After 19 days, Topps shared that an 11-year-old found the Skenes card in one hobby box.
Q. Can Paul Skenes hit?
A. Johnson explained that he would never doubt Paul Skenes. Skenes has the skill and competitive spirit to succeed in hitting. However, Johnson thinks focusing on pitching, like with Jared Jones, is the best approach for him.
Q. What’s so special about Paul Skenes?
A. He was the first pitcher in the Modern Era to achieve 150 strikeouts and have an ERA below 2.00 in his first 22 games. Since earned run average (ERA) became official in 1913, only Steve Rogers had a lower ERA than this over his first 22 starting appearances in 1973-74, with a 1.95 ERA.