PITTSBURGH – Pirates phenom Paul Skenes has quickly captured the attention of baseball fans across the world over the past two seasons, with many tuning in every time he toes the rubber. And rightfully so,

What a day it was for the Chicago Cubs, who took on arguably the best arm in Major League Baseball in Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates and Cubs, division rivals, are in completely different spots as organizations.

Paul Skenes could tell during his pregame bullpen session on Thursday that he wasn't quite right. The Chicago Cubs then went out and offered tangible proof, taking the Pittsburgh ace deep three times in the fifth inning of what became an 8-3 Pirates loss on Thursday in a performance that was decidedly unSkenes-like,