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United States pitcher Paul Skenes walks back to the mound during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the Dominican Republic, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. Skenes flag patch on the hat and sleeve are backwards. Associated Press<\/p>\n
MIAMI \u2014 Paul Skenes pitched with poise through pressure, dispatching a series of stars on a night of great stakes in a sold-out stadium with millions watching on TV.<\/p>\n
This was the type of game he never sees with the Pittsburgh Pirates and he may not experience on a regular basis until 2030.<\/p>\n
Skenes dominated the Dominican Republic’s lineup of all-stars for 4 1\/3 innings in the America’s 2-1 semifinal victory<\/a> Sunday night, allowing his only run when Junior Caminero hit a go-ahead home run in the second on a 1-2 sweeper at the top of the strike zone.<\/p>\n \u201cThe D.R. is the toughest lineup I\u2019ve ever faced, for sure,\u201d Skenes said.<\/p>\n The National League Cy Young Award winner last year in his first full season at age 23, Skenes mixed six pitches among 71 offerings that included a fastball averaging 97.6 mph. He allowed six hits and finished the tournament 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA and a .226 opponents batting average.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can make the argument he\u2019s the best pitcher in the game,\u201d U.S. manager Mark DeRosa said. \u201cSpecial presence, special man, wants the moment, wasn\u2019t too big for him. Controls his emotions, makes pitches.\u201d<\/p>\n Skenes retired his first five batters before Caminero homered, then hit Geraldo Perdomo with a pitch and allowed Ketel Marte’s single in the third, but right fielder Aaron Judge threw a 95.7 mph strike to third to cut down Fernandez Tatis Jr. for the inning’s final out.<\/p>\n \u201cA moment like that where I can throw a guy out and help out Paul Skenes, who is electric as he is, I was excited about that,\u201d Judge said.<\/p>\n Skenes stranded the bases loaded in the fourth when Austin Wells flied out. He had been given the lead when Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony homered in the top half.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s very smart. He likes playing with the mind of the hitters,\u201d said Juan Soto, who went 0 for 2 against Skenes. \u201cWe have to think a lot when we face him. That\u2019s why I think he\u2019s so special.\u201d<\/p>\n Skenes has a 1.96 ERA in 55 career starts, striking out 386 while walking 74 in 320 2\/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 right-hander has not come close to the playoffs on Pirates teams that finished 76-86 in 2024 and 71-91 last year.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh enters this season with seven straight losing records and 27 in 30 years that included a record 20 in a row<\/a> from 1993 to 2012. The Pirates haven’t reached the World Series since winning the 1979 title.<\/p>\n