Paul Skenes' first loss was absolutely electric Pirates moment, but questions remain

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes recorded two career firsts on Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals: he pitched into the ninth inning, and he suffered an official loss in a Major League Baseball game.

It's rather out of the ordinary for a pitcher to accomplish these two firsts in a single game, but Skenes is anything but ordinary. In his first 11 starts prior to Tuesday, he had a 1.90 ERA and a 6.85 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He recently became the first player in MLB history to make the All-Star Game the summer after being drafted – and he started the game for the National League.

On Tuesday, Skenes tossed 8 1/3 innings of two-run ball against the Cardinals, allowing just four hits, walking none, and striking out eight on 104 pitches. He now stands at 6-1 over 12 starts with an 0.87 WHIP, 97 strikeouts and 13 walks in 74 2/3 innings pitched. His ERA for the season is now 1.93.

By every measure, Skenes was as dominant as ever. But the deepest start of his pro career would ultimately end in disappointment, thanks to the lack of run support – and defensive support – from his Pirates teammates.

Paul Skenes pitches into the ninth inning to the tune of 'M-V-P!' chants from Pirates fans

Skenes had thrown 91 pitches through eight innings against the Cardinals, and Pirates fans were preparing for the all-too-familiar outcome of manager Derek Shelton yanking him from the game. But in a shocking departure from the norm, Shelton allowed Skenes to remain on the mound for the ninth. The crowd at PNC Park erupted in a show of appreciation, rising from their seats and chanting “M-V-P!” as Skenes emerged from the dugout.

With the game tied at 1-1 entering the final frame, Skenes allowed what would be the game-deciding RBI single to Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson. The Pirates' bats fell unsurprisingly quiet in the bottom of the ninth, giving way to a 2-1 St. Louis victory.

In Skenes' past seven starts, the Pirates have given him just 16 total runs of support while he was in the game, with eight of those runs coming in a single outing. In Tuesday's loss, the Pirates loaded the bases twice and failed to score; wasted a leadoff double from outfielder Jack Suwinski in the fifth inning; and grounded into multiple double plays.

Tuesday's loss may have been the first of Skenes' MLB career, but it should not be a stain on his record. Rather, it's a stain on general manager Ben Cherington and the Pirates organization for failing to stock the batting order with run support to bolster their playoff-caliber starting rotation. If Cherington isn't doing everything in his power to acquire another bat or two before next week's trade deadline, he is actively wasting a generational talent in Skenes, not to mention the rest of his starting staff.

With one more game remaining against the Cardinals on Wednesday and nine against the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres over the next three weeks, the Pirates have 10 contests against immediate competition in the National League wild card race. Now more than ever, the message to Cherington should be clear:

Get Skenes and the Pirates' pitching staff some help. They've earned it.

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