Don Kelly Justifies Decision to Pull Paul Skenes in Pirates' Loss to Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly faced scrutiny after pulling pitcher Paul Skenes in the seventh inning during a tight game against the Chicago Cubs, which the Pirates lost 4-3. At the time, the Pirates held a 3-2 lead, and Skenes had thrown 82 pitches, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four batters and walking one.

Kelly opted to replace Skenes with Gregory Soto, who subsequently allowed two runs, leading to the Cubs' comeback victory. This loss marked the Pirates' second consecutive defeat to the Cubs, leaving them 6.5 games behind the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild-card spot.

In his defense, Kelly noted that Skenes had not pitched beyond seven innings since mid-May and had been dealing with health issues. Despite the low pitch count, critics argued that Skenes should have remained in the game longer, especially given the struggles of the Pirates' bullpen throughout the season. Kelly acknowledged the disappointment of losing a late lead and the series against the Cubs.