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The right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skenes, delivered a dominant performance in his first start with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, facing Team Mexico in group-stage action at Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros.
Paul Skenes' dominantpPerformance vs. Mexico
The young hurler shone from the mound, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and one walk, striking out seven batters on 60 pitches in the World Baseball Classic 2026.
Paul Skenes' seven strikeouts mark the highest total by any United States pitcher in the last three editions of the World Baseball Classic.
Paul Skenes showcased his power right from the start, touching 99.7 mph with his fastball and dominating hitters like Jarren Duran and Randy Arozarena. During his outing, he primarily mixed four-seam fastballs, sinkers, and splitters, relying on his velocity to neutralize Mexico's offense.
Team USA's offense was also crucial, with a two-run home run from Aaron Judge and a three-run blast from Roman Anthony that pushed the score to 5-0 in this USA vs Mexico World Baseball Classic game.
With this outing, Paul Skenes made it clear why he's regarded as one of the top pitchers for Team USA heading into the World Baseball Classic 2026. He could pitch again in the WBC elimination rounds if the United States maintains its perfect pace in the tournament.