Paul Skenes returned to the hill in Pittsburgh on Thursday, which meant Pirates fans were treated to another appearance by his internet sensation girlfriend, Livvy Dunne.
The rookie pitcher pitched six solid innings, but didn’t factor into the call as his Pirates blew a 5-2 lead to fall 7-6 to the visiting San Francisco Giants.
But that was of little concern to one young fan, who was asked by a Pittsburgh sideline reporter to name what he liked most about the rookie sensation.
“His mustache and Livvy Dunne,” said the young Pirates fan, who also wore a fake mustache.
Dunne made his obligatory Instagram post before Thursday’s game, writing “let’s go bucs” alongside a photo of the LSU gymnast in a blank tank top. The model and social media titan has been a staple at Skenes’ games after the two started dating while attending school in Baton Rouge.
Mustachioed Pirates fan reveals he likes Skenes and his gymnast girlfriend’s facial hair
His girlfriend, Livvy Dunne, posted a photo of herself on Instagram before the game.
Paul Skenes allowed one run in six solid innings, but the San Francisco Giants rallied against the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen to win 7-6 on Thursday.
Matt Chapman hit a three-run homer off Hunter Stratton (1-1) in the eighth and Brett Wisely had a go-ahead single off Aroldis Chapman five batters later as the Giants rallied from a big deficit for the second time in less than 24 hours. .
San Francisco trailed by five points early in a 9-5 extra-innings victory Wednesday. The Giants trailed 6-2 to seven on Thursday after Bryan Reynolds’ second home run in two days appeared to give the Pirates plenty of wiggle room to help Skenes win his second straight start.
Not this time.
Chapman, Wisely, Lamont Wade Jr. and Heliot Ramos each had two hits for the Giants, who won for just the fifth time in their last 13 road games. Luke Jackson (2-1) took the win working in the seventh. Tyler Rogers pitched the ninth inning for his first save this season.
The comeback came after Skenes had long since retired after another impressive outing.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the first inning on Thursday.
Former Louisiana State University gymnast Olivia Dunne is seen at the Pirates game on Thursday
Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes’ girlfriend Livvy Dunne takes photos with fans
The 6-foot-6 right-hander struck out just three in his third major league start, but he expertly navigated traffic on the bases. The 21-year-old rookie allowed six hits (all singles) with one walk and lowered his ERA to 2.25.
The top pick in the 2023 amateur draft has become an immediate sensation in Pittsburgh. A crowd of 23,162 that included Skenes’ girlfriend, a gymnast/influencer. Livvy Dunne – more than double what the club had been averaging for weekday matinees this season – came out to see pitcher Skenes and his trademark mustache, a look that is getting almost as much attention like his 100+ mph fastball.
Six days from being dominant start in chicago In which he pitched six hitless innings against the Cubs, Skenes wasn’t nearly as overwhelming against the Giants. Only four of his 93 pitches reached triple digits and he relied more on contact to get out of trouble, using a pair of double plays and solid defensive work from third baseman Jared Triolo to run through San Francisco’s lineup nearly three times.
Skenes allowed one run in six solid innings, but the Giants fought back to steal the victory.
It was when Skenes left that things got complicated. When he was in, the Pirates rolled.
Joey Bart hit 434 shots from the batter’s eye behind the center field fence in the fourth for the first grand slam of his career. Bart, selected second in the 2018 draft by the Giants before being acquired by Pittsburgh in April, also had a double. The catcher is hitting .391 (9-for-23) during his six-game hitting streak.
Bart’s day ended a little early when he was ejected by first base umpire Alex Tossi after a groundout to end the eighth.
Andrew McCutchen led off the bottom of the first with his seventh home run of the season for Pittsburgh.