D-backs' Skaggs strikes out 10 in Reno
"I threw four straight balls -- actually five -- and then I picked him off," Skaggs said of Mitchell. "I don't know if that has ever happened: a pitcher getting an out before throwing a strike. But it got me in a groove."
The D-backs' third-ranked prospect proceeded to strike out 10 batters over seven strong innings in the Triple-A Reno's 3-2 walk-off win over Sacramento.
Skaggs pitched 4 2/3 hitless frames before River Cats first baseman Daric Barton singled into right field. The 21-year-old left-hander allowed one run on six total hits: Barton doubled in the seventh and scored on Wes Timmons' two-out single into left.
"I made a stupid pitch. He still hit it. Credit to [Timmons]," said Skaggs, who also walked three batters but threw 67 of his 99 pitches for strikes. He added he had near-complete command of his fastball, changeup and curveball.
"The curveball was the main [strikeout] pitch," said Skaggs, who neared his career high of 12, accrued April 20 with Double-A Mobile. "That's the best it's been all year."
Through six Pacific Coast League starts, the Woodland Hills, Calif. native is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA. Does he feel like he's pitching up to his massive potential?
"I feel I like I am right there," he said. "I am on the cusp."
So what does Skaggs have left to improve upon in the Minors? At Triple-A, left-handed batters are hitting .306 (15-for-49) against him, while righties are, more predictably, batting .238 (19-for-80).
Barton, who has spent parts of six seasons in the Majors, is the latest example. The lefty swinger smacked an 0-2 hanging curveball that broke up Skaggs' early no-hit bid in the fifth.
"I feel like, against lefties, my curveball gets a little loopy," Skaggs said. "That may be something for me to work on."
Right-handed reliever Bryan Shaw gave up Grant Green's game-tying RBI triple in the eighth.
The Aces retook the lead opposite lefty Pedro Figueroa in the ninth: Recent acquisition Tyler Bortnick smacked a leadoff single and scored two batters latter on Adam Eaton's double toward center field.
Skaggs deemed the outcome "phenomenal."
"They're a first-place team. We're a first-place team. This was an important win," he said.
Eaton, the D-backs' No. 15 prospect, went 1-for-5. He has or shares the Pacific Coast League lead in batting (.373), doubles (35), hits (141), runs (103) and stolen bases (32).
River Cats starter Bruce Billings also didn't receive a decision. Billings was charged with two runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out five.
Andrew Pentis is a contributor to MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at AndrewMiLB.