BALTIMORE — In the 144-year history of the Pittsburgh Pirates, only eight players have struck out 200 batters in a season. Ed Morris had the top two seasons back in the 19th century. Bob Veale accomplished the feat four times in the 1960s. In the 21st century, Óliver Pérez, Mitch Keller, A.J. Burnett, Francisco Liriano and Gerrit Cole all had a year with at least 200 punchouts.
In Pittsburgh’s 2-1 loss in 10 innings on Wednesday night at Camden Yards, Paul Skenes joined that select group, hitting the 200 plateau by fanning Coby Mayo in the third inning with a sweeper. Skenes racked up eight strikeouts in all over a five-inning, 64-pitch outing and exited with the Pirates holding a 1-0 lead on Spencer Horwitz’s fourth-inning home run.
Skenes now sits at 203 strikeouts, the most in the National League and the third most in the Majors, behind Red Sox lefty Garrett Crochet and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. Skenes is 11th in franchise history in strikeouts in a season, and third among right-handed pitchers behind Keller (210 in 2023) and Burnett (209 in 2013).
