Baseball is often called the ultimate team sport, and for good reason. Unlike football or basketball, where a few superstars can carry a team to victory, baseball demands contributions from every player on the field. History is filled with teams stacked with Hall of Famers that never even sniffed a World Series title. But on this night, Paul Skenes made it look like he could win all by himself.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' ace opened the game with 4.2 no-hit innings, and the Arizona Diamondbacks had no answer for his dominance. The only blemishes came on a swinging bunt by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and a screaming single to left from Nolan Arenado. Outside of that brief threat, the D-backs swung early and often, but rarely made solid contact. It was a masterclass in pitching from the reigning Rookie of the Year and unanimous Cy Young winner.

For Arizona's Michael Soroka, it was a heartbreakingly tough loss. His only mistake came on the fourth pitch of the game, when Brandon Lowe crushed a hanging changeup to center field for the game's only run. After that homer, the Pirates loaded the bases with a Bryan Reynolds single and a Ryan O'Hearn walk, giving fans flashbacks to that nightmare first inning in Milwaukee last week. But the Diamondbacks' defense came to life, turning in gem after gem to keep the game close.

Arenado robbed Nick Gonzales of a hit with a hot-shot stop down the line, nearly turning it into a double play. Alek Thomas made a diving catch at the warning track to take away a double from Spencer Horwitz. And there were multiple plays at the plate, including a baffling baserunning blunder that ended the second inning. It was a defensive showcase, but it wasn't enough against Skenes' brilliance.

Maybe it's unfair to call a 2.91 ERA and 0.824 WHIP season "up and down," but that's what happens when you set the bar as high as Skenes has. After winning Rookie of the Year and following it up with a unanimous Cy Young, anything less than perfection feels like a letdown. And for the Diamondbacks, losing to a pitcher like that is tough to swallow—but it's also a reminder of just how special Skenes truly is.