Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes had the worst start of his three-year career Wednesday, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits over just four innings of work against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Pittsburgh Pirates star didn’t reach the fifth inning for just the eighth time in 72 big-league starts. He struck out just five batters, only the 14th time he’s failed to record six-plus Ks in the majors.
Skenes’ previous career-high for earned runs allowed was five. It’s the fourth time that he’s allowed five-plus earned runs in a game, but the third time he’s done it this year. The Phillies also tagged him for five earned runs on May 17 in Pittsburgh.