CINCINNATI -- Paul Skenes had history in hand after Gavin Lux grounded out to second base to lead off the fourth inning on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. No Pirate starting pitcher in the Live Ball Era had ever pitched enough innings to qualify for the ERA title and finished with a sub-2 ERA.

On a day when Skenes and the Pirates had nothing to play for but history for their pitcher and pride, that was the first of several obvious potential exits to conclude the National League Cy Young frontrunner’s final start of the season and close perhaps the greatest season for a pitcher in franchise history. As it turned out, Skenes’ night was barely half over.

Skenes ended up throwing six scoreless innings against the Reds, striking out seven with only four hits allowed.

That performanc

See Full Page