Tarik Skubal is embracing the intensity and excitement of Major League Baseball’s postseason.
The Detroit Tigers pitcher delivered an outstanding performance in a crucial matchup against the Cleveland Guardians during Game 2 of the American League Division Series. Skubal threw seven scoreless innings, using 92 pitches and striking out eight batters to keep the Tigers competitive in a tight game against Cleveland.
Starting off strong, Skubal recorded a perfect first four innings but faced challenges in the fifth and sixth, escaping both innings thanks to double plays. In the fifth, after allowing a double and hitting a batter, he forced Andrés Giménez into a 4-6-3 double play to leave a runner stranded in scoring position.
In the sixth inning, the Guardians managed two hits that put runners on the corners with one out, but Skubal once again turned to the double play for relief. He induced a slow grounder from David Fry to Trey Sweeney, who threw to Colt Keith, completing the double play with Spencer Torkelson stretching to make the final out.
As he left the mound, Skubal engaged with the Cleveland crowd, urging them for more noise.
Despite Skubal’s impressive outing, the Tigers found themselves locked in a scoreless game against the Guardians. The Tigers’ offense struggled, recording only four hits off starter Matthew Boyd in the first 4⅔ innings and failing to capitalize on two opportunities with runners in scoring position.
The Tigers and Guardians will have an off day on Tuesday, setting the stage for Game 3 at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday.