This marked the second sellout crowd of the season at PNC Park, the first being the home opener on April 5, underscoring the growing excitement surrounding Skenes' appearances.
"There's a palpable difference in the ballpark when he's on the mound," commented Derek Shelton before the game. "I believe there's a distinct buzz in our stadium, and I think our players thrive on that."
It certainly seemed like the players relished that extra energy, as the Pirates launched seven homers en route to a decisive 14-2 victory over the Mets on Friday. However, it was Skenes who led the charge, pitching seven innings of two-run ball with eight strikeouts to secure his fifth Major League win. While he initially struggled to find his best fastball, he gradually settled in and grew stronger as the game unfolded.
"I don't think we needed to hit 14," remarked Bryan Reynolds. "I guess we were just making up for some lost time out there."
Skenes' Major League career now spans 10 starts, during which he has compiled a 5-0 record with a 2.12 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 59 1/3 innings. Widely touted as a generational talent, his early months in the Majors have solidified that reputation.
Highlighting some of his achievements and historical context through his first 10 starts:
Skenes and Masahiro Tanaka are the only pitchers to strike out at least 70 batters while issuing 12 or fewer walks in their first 10 starts. Tanaka achieved 79 strikeouts with 10 walks, whereas Skenes has recorded 78 strikeouts with 12 walks.
Among pitchers since 1901, Skenes' 78 strikeouts through his initial 10 starts rank eighth. In the 21st century, only Tanaka and Stephen Strasburg (79 strikeouts each) have surpassed him in this regard. Notably, Skenes has allowed the fewest runs among these pitchers, yielding just 14.