In a truly historic moment during the All-Star Game, Paul Skenes took the mound as the starting pitcher, becoming the first player to start an All-Star Game just a year after being drafted. While Skenes may not have recorded any strikeouts, his presence on that stage was a testament to his remarkable journey in professional baseball.

Skenes, a phenom from the Pittsburgh Pirates, showcased his skills in an eventful first inning. Despite not striking out any batters in his brief appearance, Skenes managed to retire all four hitters he faced and prevented the American League from scoring. It was an unusual sight considering Skenes' impressive strikeout record in his regular-season starts.

During the game, Aaron Judge was asked if making it through a full inning without a strikeout could be considered a win. Judge, however, responded that scoring runs was the ultimate goal, and the absence of strikeouts was more of a draw.

One of Skenes' notable confrontations came against Cleveland's Steven Kwan, known for his ability to avoid strikeouts. Kwan, who rarely swings and misses at pitches with high velocity, found himself swinging and missing at one of Skenes' splinkers. While Kwan eventually popped up to short, it was an interesting battle between two talented players.

Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, another formidable hitter, had an at-bat against Skenes as well. Henderson, who had an outstanding batting average against fastballs with high velocities, couldn't catch up with Skenes' offerings and ended up grounding out. Despite not necessarily striking out, Henderson acknowledged the challenge of facing Skenes and his electric stuff.

Juan Soto, a standout player for the Nationals, managed to draw a walk against Skenes after a hard-fought at-bat. Soto even made a point to stare at Judge in the on-deck circle, signaling that he had successfully set up an at-bat for his teammate.

The highly-anticipated moment arrived when Aaron Judge stepped up to the plate with Soto on first base. However, the excitement was short-lived as Skenes induced a ground ball right into the hands of NL third baseman Alec Bohm, resulting in an out.

While expectations were high for Skenes heading into the game, it is important to note that only three starting pitchers in history have struck out all three batters they faced in the first inning of an All-Star Game. Skenes still managed to make his mark with his impressive pitch velocity, becoming only the third starter in the pitch-tracking era to throw two pitches over 100 mph in the first inning of an All-Star Game.

Reflecting on his experience, Skenes admitted that he was in awe of the moment he stepped on the mound. Despite feeling close to blacking out from the overwhelming emotions, he acknowledged the significance of being able to pitch in such a prestigious event.

In the end, Skenes' performance may not have lived up to the heightened expectations, but his inclusion in the All-Star Game as a rookie pitcher who had just been drafted the previous year was a testament to his exceptional talent. As Skenes embarks on his baseball journey, this memorable appearance will undoubtedly be a significant milestone in his burgeoning career.