Start passing the brooms. We’re winning today. I want to write about Tarik, Skubal he’s gooood! Okay so I’m no Frank Sinatra, but Tarik Skubal was good today. The Tigers bats were also good and able to get key hits after some big errors by the New York Yankees, as the Tigers swept them for the first time in Detroit since way back in 2000, final score 6-0.
Skubal was outstanding today, pitching one of his strongest games so far in the majors. Over his six innings of work, the Yankees never really got anything going in terms of a threat, save for the first two batters of the game who reached. But the would-be threat was thwarted thanks to a double play and a line out. For the next five innings Skubal was dominant. He struck out eight and walked two. He gave up just two hits, only one of which, a ground rule double from Aaron Judge, was hard hit. He also made a bit of history today.
Tarik Skubal finishes with 6 scoreless innings on 3 hits with 3 walks and 8 K’s. Derek Holland on for 7th.
Skubal is the first Tigers rookie to strike out eight or more batters in three consecutive starts.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) May 30, 2021
Meanwhile, the Tigers hitters took advantage of a Yankees team that was misfiring on defense. They scored two runs in the first inning thanks to a two-out double down the left field line from Nomar Mazara. Miguel Cabrera scored from first on the play, despite being held at third by coach Chip Hale, though Hale has now been introduced to the Miggy rule when it comes to obeying stop signs. The Yankees were probably as surprised as Hale was.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the second inning but couldn’t score. While Jim Price was busy talking about getting some hot bratwursts in the upcoming Milwaukee series, the Tigers filled up the bases again, this time breaking through thinks to back to back fielding errors from Gio Urshela and Gleyber Torres. They then broke the game open for good with a bases clearing, three run double, from Willi Castro, putting the Tigers up 6-0.
With Skubal exiting the game at 90+ pitches to start the seventh, Derek Holland came on and pitched a clean seventh. Bryan Garcia ran into some trouble in the eight and had to be relieved by Michael Fulmer who ended the threat with only two runs scored, thanks to a baserunning error from Gary Sanchez. It would get a bit interesting in the ninth, but honestly, what’s a series without a Tigers Bullpen Experience moment? Fulmer put the first two on and then after getting the next two batters walked Stanton to bring up Judge. Fulmer dialed up a flurry of hard sliders, eventually dropping one into the top of the zone to strike him out looking to finish the sweep. Exhale, time to party!
- Tarik Skubal has been on a role lately. Since ditching the splitter in favor of the changeup, he’s put it all together.
- On this day, we remember one of the greatest members of Detroit sports lore. Clearly the Rally Goose magic was working today.