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,

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes experienced a career first on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs ( GameTracker ), and not of the positive manner he's grown accustomed to over the last year. Rather, Thursday's game represented the first time he has surrendered three home runs during an appearance at the big-league level.

It was the last of three home runs the Cubs hit off Skenes in the fifth after solo shots by Dansby Swanson and Kyle Tucker. Those three runs gave the Cubs their first lead. And for good measure, Suzuki added a two-run homer in the seventh inning off reliever Kyle Nicolas.