More Cheers for Olivia Than Strikeouts for Skenes? Pete Crow-Armstrong Couldn’t Resist a Dig
The Pirates thought Paul Skenes’ blazing fastball would be the headline in Thursday’s clash against the Reds — but instead, the spotlight once again drifted into the stands. And Cubs rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong made sure no one missed it.
While Skenes delivered another strong outing, it wasn’t his strikeouts that drew the loudest reaction. The cameras — and the crowd — couldn’t take their eyes off Olivia Dunne, who showed up in full game-day glam to support her boyfriend. Every time she appeared on the big screen, cheers erupted louder than the roar for Skenes’ strikeouts.
That didn’t escape the notice of Crow-Armstrong. Known for his sharp wit, the Cubs outfielder couldn’t help but drop a playful jab on social media.
“Pretty sure Olivia had more K’s tonight than Paul,” PCA joked, referencing the waves of fan screams that seemed to echo louder than Skenes’ fastball popping the catcher’s mitt.
The remark instantly set X ablaze. Some fans laughed, calling it “the roast of the season,” while others accused Crow-Armstrong of throwing shade at one of baseball’s hottest young arms.
But the numbers don’t lie — Skenes struck out six, while Olivia’s cheers, outfit, and camera time arguably racked up double-digit buzz.
As one fan summed it up: “Skenes is throwing heat, but Olivia’s stealing hearts. PCA just said what we were all thinking.”
Once again, the Skenes-Dunne power duo proved that in today’s MLB, the show doesn’t stop at the mound. Sometimes, the stands deliver the biggest fireworks.