Fans in disbelief after Paul Skenes' quick exit on Opening Day

The first start of the season for Pittsburgh Pirates star and reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes was an absolute nightmare.

Skenes and the Pirates faced the New York Mets at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y., and the Pirates jumped out to a 2-0 lead courtesy of a Brandon Lowe home run.

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However, things unraveled for Skenes, and he went just 0.2 innings, giving up five runs on four hits with two walks before being removed from the game.

That's it for Paul Skenes. He gets a mock standing ovation as the Mets chase him from Opening Day in the first inning.

The reigning NL Cy Young award winner threw 37 pitches, allowed five earned runs, is responsible for two additional baserunners and recorded just two outs.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 26, 2026

Skenes went 10-10 with a 1.97 ERA in 32 games for the Pirates in 2025 en route to an NL Cy Young award, and everyone expected Skenes to begin on a high note.

So, Skenes not even lasting one inning is a massive surprise, and fans had plenty of reactions after the quick hook.

He does not….37 pitches, 2 outs, 5 runs, with two on.

That's just stunning. That's also just baseball https://t.co/7Kud0AxE0T
— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) March 26, 2026

Paul Skenes is the 1st reigning Cy Young winner EVER to fail to get out of the 1st inning in his first start of the following season.
— Nicholas Nathanson (@nicholasj232) March 26, 2026

Times Paul Skenes allowed 5 runs in his 1st 55 starts: 1

5 run starts in 2026: 1

Unreal.
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) March 26, 2026

If you had the New York Mets scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning against the reigning NL Cy Young winner in Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Paul Skenes on Opening Day no less, I would not believe you.

This is shocking. Gotta process this. #OpeningDay
— Shukri Wrights (@SWrights975) March 26, 2026

Paul Skenes getting lit up is NOT something I was expecting for today.
— Compadre 🇩🇴 (@Yamil_ElRey) March 26, 2026

Here’s how the inning went for Skenes:

Francisco Lindor walk
Juan Soto single
Bo Bichette RBI sac fly
Jorge Polanco single
Luis Robert Jr. walk
Brett Baty 3-RBI triple
Marcus Semien RBI double
Carson Benge strike out
Francisco Alvarez hit by pitch

Pirates star Oneil Cruz badly misread a fly ball that cleared the bases and allowed three runs to score, which certainly didn’t help Skenes.

Oneil Cruz completely misread this Brett Baty fly ball, and it sailed over his head for a bases-clearing triple. Citi Field is loud right now, as the Mets have already made Paul Skenes throw 33 pitches. He's recorded just one out.

Mets 5, Pirates 2, bottom one. pic.twitter.com/yeKQGyNyz4
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) March 26, 2026

Cruz then missed a fly ball in center that allowed the fifth run to score.