Paul Skenes' first opening day start didn't go as planned, in terms of the result, anyway.

As soon as he took the mound tonight, Skenes became the youngest Pirate to start opening day since 1893 and the fastest first-overall draft pick to make an opening day start. He proceeded to grind through 5 1/3 innings at loanDepot Park to put himself in position to pick up his first win of the season, however, a mixture of mistakes and a poor bullpen performance led to a 5-4 loss to the Marlins on a walk-off hit down the right-field line by Kyle Stowers.

Skenes threw 94 pitches, 64 for strikes, while allowing three hits, including a hard-hit double by Derek Hill in the third. However, he struck out seven, walked two, which both came in his final inning of work, and allowed two earned runs. He ultimately came away with the feeling that there is still room for improvement as he moves forward.

"Pretty damn good start, I just got a little sloppy there at the end, just gotta execute a little quicker in that sixth inning," Skenes said. "Other than that, I was pretty happy with it." 

When you're making hitters look like this, I'd say so:

The beginning of the game went as well as one would've thought. Skenes set down the first six batters he faced and struck out four as he tried to match Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara pitch for pitch -- the first hit of the game wasn't recorded until the third inning. However, it took Skenes 33 pitches to get through those first two innings and he needed six pitches or more to set down each hitter in the first. 

As the game carried on, Skenes started to settle in. It took him 19 pitches to get through the third as Hill doubled off the wall in left field on a cutter on the inside half. That was followed by a few defensive mistakes that allowed the inning to continue as the Marlins pushed their first run across. Skenes was suddenly at 52 pitches. That was when he adjusted and set down the next six hitters he faced.

"He scattered the ball a little bit. He still was able to make pitches and execute pitches," Derek Shelton said. "Going into the sixth [on] opening day is lengthy, but I thought when he needed to make pitches, he did a good job."

Earlier this week, Shelton said that he would be surprised if any of the starting pitchers made it into the sixth, seventh or eighth innings early on this season. He added today that they were monitoring Skenes' pitch count as he entered the fifth. Then, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year used just six pitches to extend his start another inning.

Griffin Conine started the inning by reaching on an Endy Rodriguez error. However, that was followed by a pop-out to Nick Gonzales at second base before Graham Pauley fired a line drive to Rodriguez at first on a first-pitch sweeper. Rodriguez was able to step on first for the unassisted double play.

Despite striking out the first batter he faced in the sixth inning, Skenes walked the next two hitters and was all over the strike zone before Shelton decided to go to the bullpen.

"He did a good job in the fifth, and he went out in the sixth and it looked like he scattered the ball a little bit," Shelton said. "He had some deep counts. He had, what, two walks in that inning? Looked like he lost his delivery a little bit."

Skenes was looking to improve his efficiency all spring but found it difficult as he was trying to tinker with two new pitches and adjust to how hitters approach at-bats during his first spring training. Tonight's start showcased that his efforts are still a work in progress, as are any at this point. However, he understands where he needs to improve and made in-game adjustments to extend his start as much as possible and give his team a chance to win.

"There are always adjustments to be made. Little thing here, little thing there and we're 1-0," Skenes said. "So, just gotta make those adjustments."