Tigers fall to Twins 6-3 on June 29 as Tarik Skubal's 14-start home win streak ends. Riley Greene homered, but it wasn't enough to stop the division rivals.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
All good things must come to an end. On a tense Sunday night at Comerica Park, the Detroit Tigers saw one of their most impressive streaks of the season conclude as ace Tarik Skubal was handed his first home loss of the year. The Minnesota Twins played spoiler, taking the series finale 6-3 and reminding the first-place Tigers that the division race is far from over.
Tarik Skubal suffered his first home loss of the season after going a perfect 9-0 in his previous 14 starts at Comerica Park.
Tarik Skubal has been nearly invincible at home this season, but the Twins finally found a crack in the armor. The Tigers' ace battled through 5.2 innings but was tagged for five runs (four earned) on eight hits, including two costly home runs. While he still managed to strike out seven, it wasn't the dominant performance fans have grown accustomed to at Comerica Park. The loss, his third of the season, snapped an incredible 14-start winning streak at home and nudged his ERA to a still-elite 2.41.
While the final score was a disappointment, Riley Greene continued to be a beacon of offensive consistency. Greene launched his 18th home run of the season, a solo shot in the fifth inning, marking his second homer in as many days. He finished the night 2-for-4, raising his batting average to .294 and extending his on-base streak to 14 consecutive games. With 62 RBIs, Greene isn't just leading the team; he's proving to be one of the most reliable sluggers in the American League.
Despite the loss, it's important to maintain perspective, a sentiment echoed by manager A.J. Hinch. 'We battled all night, but just couldn't get the big hit when we needed it,' Hinch said post-game. 'I like the way our guys are competing every day.' The loss stings, especially against a division rival, but the Tigers wake up tomorrow still sitting atop the AL Central. This game serves as a reminder of the grind of a 162-game season and the need to bounce back quickly.
Further down the organizational ladder, the future continues to shine. Top prospects Max Clark and Kevin McGonigle had monster games for the High-A West Michigan Whitecaps. Clark, the prized outfielder, went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Not to be outdone, infielder McGonigle smashed a home run and scored three times. Seeing the organization's top young talent produce like this provides a welcome dose of optimism, even on a tough night for the big league club.
Sunday night was a mixed bag of tough pills and silver linings. The end of Skubal's home streak hurts, and a series loss to the Twins is never ideal. But with Riley Greene swinging one of the hottest bats in baseball and the team still holding onto first place, there's no reason to panic. The Tigers will look to shake this one off and regroup as they prepare for their next series, knowing that every game in this tight AL Central race counts.
