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BySports Desk
July 12, 2024
Pittsburgh Pirates phenom Paul Skenes has been chosen as the National League's starting pitcher for Major League Baseball's upcoming All-Star game, the first rookie in nearly 30 years to receive the honour.
Arizona Diamondbacks skipperTorey Lovullo, who will manage the NL team for Tuesday's Midsummer Classic, made the announcement Friday in an interview with SiriusXM MLB Network Radio.
The No. 1 overall pick in last year's MLB draft, Skenes has immediately established himself as one of the sport's premier pitchers and bright young stars. The 22-year-old has gone 6-0 with a 1.90 earned run average through his first 11 major league starts while striking out 89 batters in 66 1/3 innings.
Skenes' most impressive peformance occurred Thursday, when he did not allow a hit over seven innings and struck out 11 Milwaukee Brewers to lead the Pirates to a 1-0 victory over the NL Central leaders.
"A few really, really good candidates dropped off due to injury or the fact they were pitching on Sunday,” Lovullo told MLB Network Radio. “The answer just became more and more clear. And then certainly what Paul did (Thursday), really, really hammered down the thought that he should be the guy.”
Skenes will be only the fifth rookie pitcher to start an All-Star Game and first since the Los Angeles Dodgers' Hideo Nomo in 1995. Dave Stenhouse (1962), Mark Fidrych (1976) and Fernando Valenzuela (1981) have also accomplished the feat as rookies.
The former Louisiana State University star's 11 career MLB appearances will be the fewest for a starting pitcher in All-Star Game history, breaking the record of 13 set by Fidrychand Nomo.
Skenes will be the first Pirates pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Jerry Reuss in 1975.
The 94th MLB All-Star Game will take place Tuesday at Globe Life Fieldin Arlington, Texas at the home of the 2023 World Series champion Texas Rangers.
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MLB: Skenes strikes out 11 in 7 no-hit innings as Pirates win 1-0Paul Skenes was masterful again, throwing seven no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts as the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 1-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
Skenes threw 99 pitches in his 11th major league start and walked one while lowering his ERA to 1.90.
Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, has surrendered two runs or fewer in nine of his starts and has struck out 89 in 66 1/3 innings.
The combined no-hit bid ended when Jake Bauers opened the eighth with a single off Colin Holderman. The Brewers loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but Holderman escaped the jam by striking out William Contreras.
Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his fourth save, finishing a two-hitter.
Aaron Civale was the tough-luck loser for Milwaukee, as he pitched six-hit ball into the seventh inning.
Pittsburgh scored the game’s lone run in the seventh. Ke’Bryan Hayes reached on a leadoff single, but he was erased when Jack Suwinski hit into a fielder’s choice.
Yasmani Grandal then doubled into the gap in right-center and Suwinski scored from first with a headfirst slide.
The Brewers lost for the fifth time in seven games, while the Pirates have won three of four.
Here are all 11 strikeouts by Paul Sꓘenes in case you missed it.
Play of the Day presented by @STIHLUSA pic.twitter.com/inUgh4YsN7
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 11, 2024
Phillies finish sweep of Dodgers
Aaron Nola pitched six strong innings and was backed by three home runs as the major league-leading Philadelphia Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 5-1 victory.
Nola became the majors’ fourth 11-game winner after allowing four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.
Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman and Jose Alvarado each pitched one inning to finish the five-hitter.
Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh hit solo homers for the Phillies, who swept the Dodgers for the first time since 2011 – and first at home since 2008.
Philadelphia led every inning of the series except the first one on Tuesday, which ended with both teams scoreless.
Turner’s shot in the first inning off Anthony Banda opened the scoring, and he added an infield single in the fourth.
In the 21 games since he returned to the lineup following a 38-game stint on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, Turner is batting .356 with 11 multi-hit games.
Gavin Lux homered for the Dodgers, who have scored seven runs during a four-game skid.
Astros win 9th straight home game
Six different players drove in a run and the Houston Astros won their ninth straight at home, 6-3 over the Miami Marlins to complete a three-game sweep.
Jake Meyers doubled home a run, Jeremy Pena had a run-scoring single and Jon Singleton and Joey Loperfido added sacrifice flies to help the Astros win their ninth in 12 games.
Jake Bloss allowed two runs and four hits over four innings in his second major league start, while Tayler Scott got the final two outs of the sixth for the win.
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- MLB: Phillies hold off Dodgers for MLB-best 60th win
Kyle Schwarber hit another leadoff home run and All-Star Matt Strahm struck out Shohei Ohtani in a key spot as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 for their major league-leading 60th win on Wednesday night.
The Phillies have won the first two games of this three-game series between division leaders. At 60-32, only the 1976 team (88 games) reached the 60-win mark faster in a season in franchise history.
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Valdez pitches Astros past Marlins
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Perez’s home runs help Royals sweep
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Garrett Hampson had two-run double to back a strong start by Alec Marsh in the Royals’ 6-4 victory in the early game.
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- MLB: Braves' Sale becomes first in majors to 12 wins
Chris Sale pitched into the sixth inning for his major league-leading 12th win and Adam Duvall hit a three-run homer to lead the Atlanta Braves to their fourth straight win, 6-2 over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.
Sale (12-3) allowed two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings while walking three and striking out nine. He was replaced by Jesse Chavez after throwing 100 pitches.
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Phillies get healthy, rout Dodgers
Trea Turner hit a grand slam and All-Star Zach Wheeler pitched five strong innings before leaving with low back tightness as the Philadelphia Phillies rolled to a 10-1 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgersin a matchup of division leaders.
Wheeler earned his 10th win, throwing 76 pitches on a steamy night before leaving with a 9-1 lead. He gave up one run and three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Wheeler joined Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez as 10-game winners, giving the Phillies three before the All-Star break for the first time in franchise history.
The major league-leading Phillies welcomed back Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber from injuries before the game.
Schwarber delivered a two-run single in the second inning to put Philadelphia ahead 3-0 and the Phillies scored six morein the fourth.
Turner – a former Dodger - drove an 86-mph slider from Bobby Miller into the left field seats for his sixth career grand slam and Bryson Stott added a solo shot for his first home run since May 18 for a 9-0 advantage.
Brandon Marsh also homered for the major league-leading Phillies, who went 5-4 while Harper and Schwarber were sidelined.
Harper went 0 for 4 after he strained his left hamstring running the bases on June 27. In that same game, Schwaber strained his left groin while making a throw from left field.
Cavan Biggio’s homer was the lone run for the Dodgers, who have lost four of six.
Bello, Devers keep Red Sox surging
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Bello is only the third major league pitcher since 1961 to record his first 10 outs by strikeout. He allowed five runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings but struck out the side in each of the first three innings and fanned Lawrence Butler to open the fourth.
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