Skenes caps historic season as Pirates beat Reds in 11; Dunne's nervous watch goes viral

Paul Skenes capped a historic sophomore season by delivering six scoreless innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 in 11 innings on Sept. 24, 2025, at Great American Ball Park. He left with a no-decision, but Pittsburgh completed a late surge in extras to secure the win and move a step closer to closing out the year on a high note. The performance highlighted what has already been a banner season for the 23-year-old right-hander, who has emerged as one of baseball’s top young talents.

With a 1.97 ERA for the season, Skenes became the youngest pitcher to post a sub-2.00 ERA since Dwight Gooden did it for the Mets in 1985, according to MLB records. He also finished with 216 strikeouts, setting a Pirates franchise record for a right-handed pitcher, surpassing Mitch Keller’s previous mark of 210. The combination of elite command and velocity helped him deliver six shutout frames before handing the ball to a bullpen that preserved the victory for Pittsburgh, which improved to 69-89 and remained out of playoff contention.

Asked after the game about the sub-2.00 ERA, Skenes downplayed the statistic, emphasizing winning over numbers. “Having a sub-2 [ERA] is great, but it’s not… I don’t know. I don’t think it’s necessarily a winning mentality to come out after four [innings],” he said. “I didn’t think about it. I didn’t know what my ERA was during the game. I wasn’t checking anything like that. Just about winning.” The LSU product — who helped the Tigers win the national title in 2023 — also joked about his season-long numbers, noting he felt his rookie ERA (1.96) was marginally better than what he posted this year before calling himself only joking about any comparisons to prior seasons.

“I’m actually worse than I was last year,” Skenes added with a smile. “I’m just kidding. It’s cool. I don’t come into the year with any numerical goals or anything like that, any stat goals, but it’s a product of doing what you’re supposed to do.”

The night also carried the weight of the moment off the mound. Olivia “Livvy” Dunne, the former LSU gymnast and longtime partner of Skenes, was featured in the local broadcast from a private suite in Cincinnati. Dressed in jeans and a gray long-sleeve shirt, she filmed the action on her phone as she appeared visibly tense while tracking the start from the suite above the concourse. Social media clips captured the moment, including one where she could be heard shouting “Come on” as Skenes worked.

Dunne later reposted video from the night to her Instagram Story, writing “can’t blame a gal for being nervous.” A clip of Skenes celebrating in the Pirates’ dugout accompanied another post, along with the caption “Best szn I ever did see.” The couple has been one of the most-followed NIL-era pairings in sports, drawing attention beyond the ballpark for the way their relationship intersected with a record-breaking season.

The night’s results did little to change the Pirates’ standing in the division. Despite Skenes’ dominance, Pittsburgh remained in last place in the NL Central, well outside the postseason picture as the calendar moved toward October. Still, the performance supplied a clear signal of what the organization believes about its core talent as it eyes a more competitive 2026 season.

Skenes’ milestone season concludes a year in which he delivered more occurrences of historic pace than most players achieve in a full career. In addition to the franchise strikeout record for a right-hander, his 216 punchouts represent a dominant finish to a season that has drawn comparisons to some of the sport’s most celebrated rookie and sophomore campaigns. The Pirates, though still chasing a playoff berth, can point to a marquee development that could shape the franchise’s trajectory for years to come.

As the season closes, the Pirates will look to translate Skenes’ sustained excellence into a foundation for future competitiveness. For Skenes, the immediate takeaway is a personal milestone that complements a season already defined by dominant performance and a growing reputation as one of baseball’s premier young arms. For Dunne, the moment provided a highly public chapter in a prominent NIL-era relationship that will likely continue to be a topic of discussion as both athletes navigate the off-season and, eventually, the next chapters in their careers.