Tarik Skubal's 11-strikeout gem leads the Detroit Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Rangers, snapping a 6-game skid. See how the ace stopped the bleeding.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Finally. The Detroit Tigers can exhale. After a miserable, season-worst six-game losing streak that had fans pulling their hair out, the team found its savior in the man they needed most. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal put the team on his back Sunday night, delivering a masterful performance to shut down the Texas Rangers and secure a desperately needed 2-1 victory.
11 strikeouts, no walks, and just two hits allowed over 6.2 masterful innings. That's an ace performance.
When your team is spiraling, you look to your best player to be the stopper. Tarik Skubal answered the call and then some. From the first pitch, he was in complete control, carving up the Rangers lineup with surgical precision. It was his seventh double-digit strikeout game of the season, and he didn't issue a single walk, showcasing the command that won him the Cy Young. Every time he took the mound, you could feel the confidence returning to the dugout. It was a classic, 'hop on my back, boys' kind of outing that reminded everyone just how dominant he can be.
While Skubal handled the pitching, the offense did just enough to get the job done—a welcome sight after struggling to score runs during the losing streak. The big blow came in the eighth inning when Matt Vierling laced a go-ahead RBI single to score Gleyber Torres, breaking the 1-1 tie. Zach McKinstry had chipped in with an RBI single earlier in the game. Racking up nine hits might not seem like an offensive explosion, but compared to recent games, it felt like a deluge. Timely hitting, not just any hitting, is what wins ballgames, and the Tigers finally got some.
The celebration can't last long, however, as the Tigers hop on a plane to face a daunting challenge in Pittsburgh. On Monday, they'll square off against Pirates phenom Paul Skenes, the hard-throwing righty who started the NL All-Star Game and boasts a sparkling 2.01 ERA. Detroit will send Jack Flaherty to the mound, who is looking to right his own ship and secure his first win since way back on June 8. It's a classic 'out of the frying pan, into the fire' scenario that will immediately test the team's newfound momentum.
While the big league club fought to get back on track, the front office continued to tinker with the roster. On July 18, the team signed veteran reliever Tanner Rainey, hoping to add another power arm to the bullpen mix. In more encouraging news, right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long, a key piece of the future rotation, has begun a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens. His potential return later this season would be a significant boost for the pitching staff.
One win doesn't erase a tough stretch, but it's a monumental first step. Snapping the skid behind a vintage Skubal performance provides a massive morale boost. Now, the Tigers have to prove it wasn't a fluke. All eyes turn to Pittsburgh to see if the bats can support Jack Flaherty against one of the game's best young arms in Paul Skenes. Monday's opener will tell us a lot about this team's resolve.
