Pirates ace Paul Skenes endures erratic start during 8-3 loss to Cubs

Paul Skenes could tell during his pregame bullpen session on Thursday that he wasn't quite right.

The Chicago Cubs then went out and offered tangible proof, taking the Pittsburgh ace deep three times in the fifth inning of what became an 8-3 Pirates loss on Thursday in a performance that was decidedly unSkenes-like, at least by the 22-year-old's remarkably high standards.

It started during his intricate warm-up, when the impeccable command that has defined so much of the reigning National League Rookie of the Year's rise to stardom abandoned him.

"Bullpen was a little all over the place," Skenes said after falling to 3-3. "And then went out in the game and was a little all over the place."

Skenes had allowed four walks across his first six starts. He matched that total in the first three innings, including a sequence in the third in which he threw 12 of 15 pitches for balls to walk the bases loaded.

While he escaped thanks to an inning-ending double play, the reprieve didn't last. Dansby Swanson turned an 0-2 splitter that stayed high and over the middle of the plate into his sixth home run of the season. Three batters later, Kyle Tucker sent a 96 mph fastball — a tick lower than the velocity Skenes usually averages — into nearly the same spot in right-center where Swanson's homer landed to tie the game.

Skenes then fell behind Seiya Suzuki, 3-0. Chicago manager Craig Counsell let Suzuki swing away and Suzuki delivered with a shot to the bleachers in left field to put the Cubs in front to stay.

"He’s a great pitcher," Suzuki said afterward through a translator. "He might not have been in the best condition today. But with him, you’ve got to stay aggressive. In that count, I was hoping for him to just throw it in the zone