GOOD NEWS: The Tigers Makes Another Stunning Announcement Involving Tarik Skubal, Fans Jubilating

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal delivered a masterpiece on Sunday, tossing the first complete game of his career in dominant fashion. In a 9-inning gem against the Cleveland Guardians, Skubal was nearly untouchable — needing just 94 pitches to get through the game. He struck out 13 batters, didn’t issue a single walk, and threw only 22 balls the entire outing.

It was not only the finest performance of Skubal’s career but arguably the best pitching display by anyone this MLB season.

The Tigers badly needed a lift after losing the first three games of the four-game set against Cleveland, and Skubal provided it. Even Guardians manager Stephen Vogt had to tip his cap to the left-hander’s brilliance.

“He just came right after us,” Vogt said, per MLB.com. “It’s an 11:35 game, he’s throwing 97 to 99. He’s the best. He’s the best pitcher in baseball, and he showed it today.”

The ninth inning was electric. Fans at Comerica Park rose to their feet as Skubal took the mound to close it out. Feeding off the energy, he uncorked a staggering 103 MPH fastball — his fastest pitch of the day — to seal the game with his 13th strikeout, a fitting end to a truly dominant performance.

“I’m an emotional player. I feed off the energy in the stadium,” said Tarik Skubal after his dominant complete game. “When everyone’s on their feet, special things kinda happen when you’re in my shoes. … I knew it was going to come out hot. I didn’t necessarily know where it was going to go, though,” he added, referring to his fiery 103 MPH final pitch.

 

 

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch knows just how special his ace is — and what kind of impact Skubal can have when he’s locked in.

“When he’s got full intensity and full throttle, the sky’s the limit,” Hinch said.

The Tigers improved to 34-20 with Sunday’s win over Cleveland, snapping a three-game skid and extending their lead atop the AL Central. They followed that with another win Monday against the San Francisco Giants, pushing their record to 35-20. Detroit is quickly establishing itself as one of the top teams in baseball, and Tarik Skubal is a major reason why.

Whenever he takes the mound, the Tigers know they have a real chance to win — and Sunday’s performance was the perfect reminder of how dominant he can be.