Skenes Rekindles Memories of Jose DeLeon’s Fast Start with Pirates
Paul Skenes is striking out batters at a rate rarely seen so early in a major-league pitcher’s career.
The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander has 61 Ks in eight starts since making his debut on May 11. That is seventh-most by an MLB pitcher in his first eight starts behind Herb Score (77), Jose DeLeon (73), Kerry Wood (72), Stephen Strasburg (68), Masahiro Tanaka (68) and Nolan Ryan (66).
The second name on that list – DeLeon — has been forgotten over the years. Sadly, he died on Feb. 25 at 63 from cancer.
Yet Pirates fans of a certain age remember DeLeon. The best way to put it is that he was Paul Skenes before there was Paul Skenes.
DeLeon did not arrive in the big leagues to nearly the fanfare of Skenes when he debuted on July 23, 1983, against the visiting San Francisco Giants at Three Rivers Stadium. DeLeon was outstanding as he pitched eight innings for the win, allowing two runs or four hits with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Pitching on three days of rest – imagine if the Pirates tried that with Skenes? – DeLeon was even better in his second start. He pitched a complete-game four-hitter against the visiting San Diego Padres, allowing one run, striking out seven and walking two.
DeLeon took a no-hitter in the seventh inning before Alan Wiggins broke up the bid with a one-out single.
Once again pitching on three days of rest, DeLeon was even better on July 31 when he faced the Mets in New York. He carried a no-no into the ninth before Hubie Brooks hit a one-out single.
Yet DeLeon did not factor in the decision as the Mets won 1-0 in 12 innings.
DeLeon lost his next two starts, allowing a combined eight runs in 13 innings to the Montreal Expos and Philadelphia Phillies. However, DeLeon bounced back with four outstanding outings to finish August.
DeLeon pitched 8.1 innings to beat the Mets then threw a two-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in which he struck out 13. DeLeon held the Reds hitless into the seventh before surrendering a two-out double to Dan Driessen.
After striking out 11 in 8.2 innings to beat the Houston Astors, DeLeon again flirted with a no-hitter in a no-decision against the Reds. Gary Redus broke up that bid with a one-out single in the sixth and DeLeon wound up with a no-decision.
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