The sun was barely breaking through the Pittsburgh clouds, but the atmosphere at PNC Park was electric. Paul Skenes, the 23-year-old fireballer who’s been the talk of baseball since his call-up, was locked in. The excitement in the air wasn’t just because of the 99 mph fastballs or the unstoppable sliders; it was also about how he made the Phillies, known for their offense in MLB, appear completely outclassed. With every pitch whizzing past their struggling batsmen, leaving fans as well as others looking in admiration.

Up in the stands, Olivia Dunne stood with her phone out, capturing the moment. The LSU gymnast-turned-social media powerhouse has never shied away from showing love for her boyfriend, but this time, it felt different. The Pirates weren’t just winning, they were sweeping a contender. And right on cue, Dunne dropped a Story that quickly made waves. A clip of Skenes mid-delivery with the words: “yessir let’s go 😈.” No fluff. Just swagger, timing, and support, the Livvy way.

“Yessir, let’s go” wasn’t just a girlfriend hyping up her man. It was a message, both personal and public. Skenes had just bulldozed through the Phillies’ lineup, helping the Pirates lock in a statement sweep over one of the National League’s top-tier teams. And Dunne, with a devilish emoji and her signature confidence, summed up what every Pirates fan was feeling: this team might actually be for real.

What makes the moment even better is the context. Skenes didn’t just pitch well; he dominated. He struck out hitters with ease, worked deep into the game, and showed command that screamed “ace,” not “rising star.” It was the kind of performance you replay on highlight reels, and the kind that draws attention far beyond Pittsburgh.

And Olivia? She has become a silent storm in his rise, not through interviews or big headlines, but through perfectly-timed posts that tap into the cultural heartbeat of the moment. She’s not just watching the ride; she’s riding shotgun and documenting it with viral precision. With the Pirates now surging and Skenes looking more like a Cy Young candidate than a newcomer, expect more moments like this on the field and on the timeline. Because when Livvy Dunne speaks, even with just three words, the baseball world listens.

Paul Skenes isn’t just arriving, he’s taking over

Paul Skenes didn’t sneak into PNC Park on Sunday; he announced himself. From the first inning, he flashed elite command and velocity, cruising through six straight outs with a mix of heaters and sweepers that left Phillies hitters guessing. By the time he reached the fourth inning, he had already punched out three batters, including Kyle Schwarber with a back-foot slider, and closed the frame with a clean 1-2-3 sequence that set the tone.

But Skenes didn’t slow down. He thrashed his way into the seventh, racking up seven strikeouts and surrendering only two hits, one coming on a broken-bat bloop that plated an unearned run after a miscue from the infield. He flirted with perfection again in the eighth, retiring the first two batters in just four pitches before manager Don Kelly pulled him, explaining, “He emptied the tank there.” That stretch of 7.2 innings, one unearned run, one walk, seven punchouts, and a sparkling 1.88 ERA? It doesn’t happen by accident, it happens because Skenes pitches like he owns the mound.

Here’s the punchline: Pittsburgh won 2-1, completing a sweep of the Phillies, and Skenes didn’t just shine, he stamped his authority. He lowered his season ERA to 1.88 (second-best in the National League) and left no doubt he belongs in the conversation for “ace.” His teammate Andrew McCutchen added the decisive RBI single in the eighth, but Skenes set the table with his dominance. This wasn’t a flash in the pan, this was a statement.

And as he walks off the mound, confident and unshaken, you realize what we’re witnessing isn’t a debutant finding his feet. It’s a rising ace taking over.