2024-10-08 11:00:03
Tarik Skubal is welcoming the pressure and noise of MLB’s postseason.
The Detroit Tigers ace delivered another phenomenal start for the Tigers in a critical spot against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 2 of the ALDS. Skubal pitched seven scoreless innings over 92 pitches with eight strikeouts to keep the Tigers alive in a scoreless battle with Cleveland.
He started with a perfect first four innings, then had to escape trouble in the fifth and sixth innings, both on inning-ending double plays. After giving up a double and then hitting a batter in the fifth inning, he got Andrés Giménez to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to strand one runner in scoring position.
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In the sixth, the Guardians strung together two hits to put runners on the corners with one out, but Skubal got another double play with runners on the corners.
He induced a David Fry slow chopper to Trey Sweeney with an inside fastball. Sweeney whipped it to Colt Keith, who got it to a stretching Spencer Torkelson to turn the double play.
After the Tigers turned the double play, Skubal exited the mound and egged on the Cleveland crowd, asking for more noise.
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Despite Skubal’s great outing, the Tigers were deadlocked with the Guardians in a scoreless ball game. The Tigers’ hitters have only managed four hits, all off starter Matthew Boyd in the first 4⅔ innings, and came up empty on both chances with runners in scoring position.
The Tigers and Guardians have an off day Tuesday, before Wednesday’s Game 3 at Comerica Park in Detroit.
Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city’s professional teams, the state’s two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22, and email him at [email protected].
