Paul Skenes was nearly untouchable Wednesday night, holding the Arizona Diamondbacks to two hits over eight innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates won 1-0 in one of the sharpest outings the young right-hander has produced at the major league level.
The Pirates scored only one run, but Skenes made it stand. Arizona managed nothing through eight innings against a pitcher who has drawn comparisons to the best young starters in the game since making his debut. Pittsburgh's offense was equally spare, but the single run proved enough.
Skenes, who entered the 2025 season as one of the most anticipated young arms in baseball after being selected first overall in the 2024 draft, has steadily built a case that the hype surrounding him was warranted. Wednesday's two-hitter added to that case in a direct and concrete way.
The win gave Pittsburgh a result against a Diamondbacks club that reached the World Series in 2023 and has remained competitive in the National League West. Skenes has now established himself as the clear center of what the Pirates hope will become a sustained run of competitive baseball.
