It keeps happening. It's almost clockwork.
Paul Skenes takes the ball as the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting pitcher and throws a gem.
The Pirates proceed to squander his gem.
The latest came Sunday: Mariners 1, Pirates 0.
Skenes pitched five innings and didn't allow a run. He gave up five hits and struck out 10. He lowered his season ERA to 1.94.
Not only could the Pirates not score when Skenes was in. They couldn't score afterward, either.
Skenes has made 19 starts this season, put up that 1.94 ERA, and recorded just four wins. He has seven losses in his record.
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The big right-hander has gotten a loss decision this season in two games he allowed two runs and two games he allowed one run.
The Pirates are doing one of the best pitchers in baseball a disservice. He deserves at least a little bit of run support, at least once in a while.
Instead, Pittsburgh lets Skenes shine brightly while failing to help him out much at all.
It's a "Paul Skenes Special" at this point, and not in a good way.
Skenes is brilliant. The rest of the Pirates are putrid.
And if that doesn't change, Skenes will soon enough be pitching for someone else.
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