CLEVELAND, OH — Tarik Skubal put the Detroit Tigers on his back and simply wouldn’t allow them to lose to the Cleveland Guardians again.
The Guardians are one of the few teams that have figured out how to beat or get a no-decision out of Skubal, but that notion was flipped upside down Tuesday afternoon in Cleveland when Skubal matched a career high by fanning 14 batters, simultaneously setting a franchise record for strikeouts in a postseason game as the Tigers defeated the Guardians 2-1 in Game 1 of the 2025 American League Wild Card Series.
The national anthem taking place at Progressive Field Tuesday afternoon prior to Game 1 of the AL Wild Card between the Tigers and Guardians – Image Credit: Larry C. Arreguin/Latino Sports
The 28-year-old left-hander gave up three hits, three walks, and one run, but was consistently able to reset by “slowing things down.”
“I think your breath is probably the most important thing you can do, just breathe out there,” he said. “I think a lot of moments that happen that are out of your control or in your control, you know, just breathe. I do some breath work stuff, and I think it applies to the game. Just keep your brain in a good spot.”
The frustration was previously warranted because of Detroit’s collapse down the stretch. The way the Guardians have pestered Skubal was part of the Tigers’ MLB record-breaking 15 ½ game blown lead for first place in the American League Central division. They lost five of their final six games against the Guardians, all in a two-week span dating back to Sept. 16th.
Tarik Skubal had a dominant 14 strikeout performance in Detroit’s AL Wild Card Game 1 win Tuesday afternoon vs. Cleveland – Image Credit: Larry C. Arreguin/Latino Sports
Logic would say that’s the last team they would see in the postseason, although the Tigers didn’t back down as Skubal refused to give in.
“It means a lot to take the ball game one. To have the trust of our whole organization, teammates, coaches, you know, coaching staff, it means a lot,” Skubal said. “And it doesn’t really matter how we got here. We got in. Everybody’s in the same boat. And we’re up 1-0 in a best-of-three. So it doesn’t really matter how you get here, as long as you get in.”
This was the right spot for Skubal to rectify the mistake of not only losing two games in that six-game stretch but also being eliminated in the same ballpark—Progressive Field— in Game 5 of the 2024 American League Division Series.
“I think having Tarik at the beginning of the series, in any series, whether it’s regular season or certainly the postseason, is a huge boost for us,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.
With one more win for Detroit, the Tigers will advance to the ALDS and face the Seattle Mariners – Image Credit: Larry C. Arreguin/Latino Sports
In his last two starts, including Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, he has combined to allow four runs while not one ball left the infield in those situations.
The Tigers got him an early lead in the first with an RBI single from first baseman Spencer Torkelson that brought in Kerry Carpenter. Skubal made it stand until “Guards Ball” came into play with a walk and two infield singles to tie it up in the fourth.
Skubal only allowed one batter to reach second outside of that funky fourth, and it came on his 107th pitch of the game, with a walk and force out in the eighth inning which was when his manager, A.J. Hinch decided to go to their closer Will Vest.
Skubal was in line to get the win because of a Riley Greene double, an error, and a sacrifice bunt in the seventh that gave Detroit a 2-1 lead.
“Anyone new to the Tigers-Guardians, this is what they look like. Like every game,” said Hinch. “And obviously, Tarik set an incredible tone for us. He’s been incredible for us all season, but what a performance at the biggest moments in the biggest stage to get us in a great position to win the game.”
Stephen Vogt and AJ Hinch exchange lineups prior to first pitch on Tuesday afternoon in Cleveland – Image Credit: Larry C. Arreguin/Latino Sports
In lockstep with Tigers’ catcher Dillon Dingler, not shaking him off at all, Skubal’s stuff was as good as it’s ever been Tuesday with fastballs at 101-MPH, nasty changeups, and spinning sliders.
It was a 2-1 game, so of course, far from smooth sailing, and things got particularly dicey with Vest in the bottom of the ninth, after shortstop Javier Báez made a rare error for “El Mago.” It was a terrific stop, but the throw was wide and went into an extremely awkward spot that allowed José Ramírez to motor all the way to third base.
Ramírez, a baserunner at third, bailed Detroit out soon after by getting caught in a rundown, running on contact on a comebacker right back to Vest with one down.
José Ramírez was caught in a rundown between third base and home plate in the bottom of the ninth inning – Image Credit: Larry C. Arreguin/Latino Sports
A 2-1 lead, on the road, with nobody out and a man in scoring position. What was going through A.J. Hinch’s mind?
“Never a doubt, I don’t think anyone had a doubt,” Detroit’s skipper said after the 2-1 win in Game 1. “In our room, in this room, their room. “Everybody knew it would work out the way that it did. You have to keep playing, obviously. Even after the first one, you’re still not out of it. And then the second one, you’re still not out of it. And then obviously, we got that we had to make plays.”
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