What Does the Number 25 and Tarik Skubal Have in Common?

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Tarik Skubal dominated the Royals

The Detroit Tigers did not produce much offense Friday night, but Tarik Skubal gave them enough room to work with.

Skubal struck out 12 batters over 7 1/3 innings, generating 25 swings and misses while Hao-Yu Lee drove in the deciding run and collected two of Detroit’s five hits in a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park.

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The win moved the Tigers to 50-54 as they continue trying to work their way back toward .500. It also continued a series of closely contested games as the Tigers and Royals, dating back to last season, have had 10 one-run games. 

Detroit scored both of its runs in the first inning against Kansas City opener Beck Way.

Colt Keith and Gleyber Torres opened the inning with consecutive singles before Dillon Dingler was hit by a pitch. Riley Greene followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Keith and giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Lee then delivered with two outs, lining a single into center field to score Torres.

That was the final run Detroit scored, which placed the rest of the game in Skubal’s hands.

The left-hander allowed one run on four hits and two walks. He threw 91 pitches, generated 25 swings and misses and recorded first-pitch strikes against 24 of the 28 batters he faced.

Skubal’s changeup was his most effective swing-and-miss pitch. Kansas City hitters swung at it 14 times and missed 10, giving him a 71% whiff rate on the pitch.

He also generated six whiffs with his four-seam fastball and four with his sinker. His fastball averaged 96.5 mph and reached 98.8 mph.

Skubal established control of the game immediately by striking out Carter Jensen and Lane Thomas in the first inning. He then retired the Royals in order in the second.

Kansas City created its first significant scoring opportunity in the third inning.

Isaac Collins doubled and Michael Massey walked before Tyler Tolbert moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. With one out and the top of the Royals’ lineup coming up, Skubal struck out Jensen and Thomas to preserve Detroit’s 2-0 lead.

The Royals finally broke through in the fourth.

Salvador Perez opened the inning with a double and later scored on Nick Loftin’s two-out double to left field. Skubal prevented further damage by striking out Collins to end the inning.

After that, he retired six consecutive batters.

Skubal struck out Massey and Jensen in the fifth before working a clean sixth inning. He added two more strikeouts in the seventh, including his 12th of the night against Collins.

Kansas City nearly tied the game later in the inning.

Loftin walked and Massey doubled with two outs, putting runners at second and third. Skubal escaped when Tolbert flew out to Matt Vierling in center field.

Manager A.J. Hinch sent Skubal back out for the eighth. He retired Jensen on a line drive to center before Brenan Hanifee entered and recorded the final two outs of the inning.

Kenley Jansen followed with a clean ninth, striking out Vinnie Pasquantino and getting Loftin to pop out to Lee at second base for the final out.

While Skubal controlled the game from the mound, Lee continued making a case for regular playing time.

The 23-year-old finished 2-for-3 with an RBI single and a double. His two hits represented 40% of Detroit’s offensive production as the bats could not getting anything going off lefty Noah Cameron. 

Lee’s first-inning single came with two outs and gave the Tigers the second run they ultimately needed. He later doubled to right field with two outs in the sixth, although Detroit was unable to bring him home.

There will continue to be questions about how the Tigers divide playing time when their infield is healthy. Lee’s ability to contribute offensively while handling second base gives Detroit another option as it evaluates the roster over the final two months.

The Tigers struck out 10 times and did not score after the first inning. Noah Cameron relieved Way in the second and held Detroit scoreless over seven innings.

That left little margin for error.

Skubal provided the strikeouts and worked out of two difficult situations. Lee delivered the deciding hit and contributed defensively. Hanifee and Jansen handled the final five outs.

Detroit remains four games under .500, so there is still work ahead. Casey Mize looks to take the series for the Tigers on Saturday, starting at 1:10pm. 

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