Paul Skenes continues to make National League Rookie of the Year case

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was considered MLB's best pitching prospect at the time of his promotion. Since then, he has done everything possible to live up to that, posting a 2.13 ERA entering Monday's game that was the lowest in the majors during that period. The Marlins got their first look at Skenes on Monday night in Pittsburgh. They were the victims of yet another quality start as the rookie went six innings, allowing one run off of six hits. He also walked one and struck out nine. The Pirates would win by a final score of 3-1 and Skenes improved his record to 10-2.

Don't be fooled by their overall numbers or lack of experience: Skenes was facing a solid offense. Prior to the July 30 deadline, the Marlins were averaging only 3.61 runs per game, but since then, they are scoring 4.49 runs per game, slightly above the MLB average. They had also combined for 19 runs over their previous two games against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Skenes was overpowering on Monday with a four-seam fastball that averaged 98.8 mph while topping out at 100.6 mph. The "splinker" (which has characteristics of both a sinker and a splitter) has been Skenes' calling card since arriving to MLB. Throwing it 19 times, he generated four swings on it and used it once as a putaway pitch when he struck out Jake Burger swinging in the top of the fourth inning.

Eight out of the nine players in Miami's starting lineup (except Otto Lopez) were struck out by Skenes. Connor Norby had a rare hitless game and struck out swinging twice.

The only run that the Pirates starter surrendered was in the top of the fourth. Jesús Sánchez doubled off a 98.5 mph fastball and the hot-hitting Lopez got an RBI single off a 99.2 mph fastball.

Marlins starter Valente Bellozo continued his Linsanity run, going 5 ⅓ innings pitched, allowing three runs (but only one earned) off of six hits to lower his ERA to 3.57. He also walked one and struck out two.

In the bottom of the first inning, Bellozo surrendered a 444-foot home run to newly converted center fielder Oneil Cruz. That was Cruz's 19th home run of the season and it gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead. A throwing error by Xavier Edwards set up a Bryan Reynolds single, which drove in two runs and extended the Pirates lead to 3-0.

The Marlins had an impressive ninth-inning rally against flame-throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman. Recent call-up Javier Sanoja drew a four-pitch walk, then two batters later, Cristian Pache followed with an RBI double. It wasn't enough as the Marlins fell by a final score of 3-2, suffering their 90th loss.

Adam Oller is expected to start for the Marlins in game two of the three-game set against the Pirates. First pitch on Tuesday will be at 6:40 pm ET.