In an impressive outing on Sunday, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes showcased his skills with the longest start of his professional career. Despite an outstanding performance from Skenes, the Tampa Bay Rays emerged victorious with a 3-1 win.

Skenes, aged 22, has been carefully managed by the Pirates since being drafted as the No. 1 overall pick last summer. In his seven starts in Triple-A this season, he averaged just under four innings per game. However, the Pirates took a more aggressive approach with him in the majors, leading to his first seven big-league starts totaling 39 innings.

Facing the Rays, Skenes exhibited his talent as he held them to just one run on six hits and a walk over a commendable seven innings. The right-hander also managed to strike out eight of the 27 batters he faced. In a display of his arm strength, Skenes recorded his 8th strikeout of the day with a blazing 102-mph fastball on his final pitch of the afternoon.

Skenes' impressive performance added to his growing tally of strikeouts at the big-league level, placing him just three behind legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan and other notable performers in their first eight appearances since at least 1901. His total of 61 strikeouts underlines his promising potential as he continues to solidify his place in the Pirates' rotation.

Despite his stellar outing, Skenes did not receive a decision as the game ended in a tie when he left the mound. This outing serves as another testament to Skenes' abilities and a glimpse of the impact he can have on the Pirates' pitching staff.

As the season progresses, fans eagerly anticipate how Skenes will continue to develop and contribute to the Pirates' success. With each start, the young right-hander continues to demonstrate his potential to become a formidable force on the mound.