Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes had several special guests in attendance for his start against the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic semifinals on Sunday, including his father, friends and former Air Force Academy teammates.
Skenes put on a show for them and the rest of the world, dominating the DR’s star-studded lineup over 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball. His teammates took things from there, finishing off a tense and thrilling 2-1 victory for USA at loanDepot Park in Miami.
“I was on the edge of my seat the whole game,” Craig Skenes told The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required). “I was telling him, I think that is the best game I’ve ever seen in person.”
Many would agree with the elder Skenes, who still gets anxious watching his son pitch.
“I don’t know if ‘worried’ is the right word. I’m nervous every time he pitches,” Craig told Rosenthal. “In fact, I’m more nervous when he pitches than when he ever hit and played in the field… Everything is on the line with every pitch. There are a lot bigger outcomes as well.”
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Meanwhile, Paul never seems to get rattled or nervous. As USA manager Mark DeRosa said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, “This guy’s a robot.”
Sunday was probably the biggest game of the 23-year-old’s life so far against the toughest lineup he’s ever faced. And yet, he was as calm and poised as always, navigating the DR’s treacherous offense with relative ease and getting out of a bases-loaded jam unscathed.
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“Even if he has a bad outing, I’m incredibly proud to see him out there doing what he’s doing,” Craig told Rosenthal. “But to see what he did tonight against that lineup was amazing.”
More Pirates: Pirates Ace Paul Skenes Reflects On ‘Awesome’ World Baseball Classic Experience