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Don Kelly Pulls Paul Skenes After 5 Innings

8/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Don Kelly pulled Paul Skenes after five innings and 65 pitches in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Miami.
Skenes allowed two runs (one earned), five hits, one walk and four strikeouts while his fastball averaged 95.7 mph.
Kelly said the move was not injury-related and gave the reliever the best chance to win.
The loss left Skenes 9-11 with a 3.88 ERA and dropped the Pirates to 58-63.

History

Historical Context

During the 1975 World Series, Reds manager Sparky Anderson famously pulled starter Don Gullett after a 102-pitch, six-inning effort that preserved a 3-2 lead and helped Cincinnati win Game 2, cementing his “Captain Hook” reputation. That precedent underlies today’s strict pitch-count strategies, exemplified by Pirates manager Don Kelly’s 65-pitch removal of Paul Skenes on June 4 2024.

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Story summary

Don Kelly pulled Paul Skenes after five innings and 65 pitches in Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Miami.
Skenes allowed two runs (one earned), five hits, one walk and four strikeouts while his fastball averaged 95.7 mph.
Kelly said the move was not injury-related and gave the reliever the best chance to win.
The loss left Skenes 9-11 with a 3.88 ERA and dropped the Pirates to 58-63.

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