The Tigers and White Sox played game two of a three game series at Comerica Park on a pleasant but breezy evening in the Motor City. The Chisox had taken game one in a slugfest, but game two featured two pitchers with real good numbers: Tarik Skubal and Martín Pérez.
Skubal took the mound for the Tigers nearing the end of a likely Cy Young season; he’s been even more dominant than last year, coming into this one with a 2.18 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 216Ks to 27 walks. He uncharacteristically walked the leadoff
hitter Chase Miedroth, but a double play grounder erased him. A flyout ended things from there.
Jahmai Jones, a true lefty killer this season, led off for the Tigers against Pérez. The Chicago pitcher had missed four months of the season but came in with a sterling 2.16 ERA, albeit in only 41.2 innings. Jones wasn’t intimidated, launching a solo home run to deep left center. A single and an error put two runners on, but two deep flyouts ended up stranding them.
The game’s next baserunner was a one out walk to Gleyber Torres in the bottom of the third, but he was stranded. Both pitchers settled in through three innings, but the Tigers would break through in the fourth. Riley Greene led off with a single, then Andy Ibáñez walked. A fly ball out advanced Greene, who then scored as a “duck snort” shot from Zach McKinstry fell into left field; a diving Brooks Baldwin totally missed the ball, allowing a run to score and McKinstry to scamper to second base. A sac fly from Báez drove in another run and advanced McKinstry to third. Jones walked, bringing up Torres with a shot to break the game open. That he did, launching an Earl Weaver Special (3 run home run) to left field. Another deep fly ball out ended the inning, but the game was suddenly 6-0 in favor of the home team.
Skubal was back out in the top of the fifth, a special game ongoing. Sadly, a two-out weak bloop double ended his no-hitter bid, but he rebounded to strike out the next batter. Through five he had allowed only two baserunners.
Wikelman González relieved Pérez for the bottom of the fifth. He had a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two.
Skubal allowed a single but nothing else in his frame. Still dealing, but at 83 pitches.
González struck out the side in the sixth and had 5Ks through two innings.
AJ Hinch had Skubal go back out for the top of the 7th. He mowed down the Sox one last time. His final line was 7 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, and 6 strikeouts. Not too shabby against what has become one of the best offenses in the second half of the season (seriously, the White Sox are a top 7 offense right now).
Righty Steven Wilson took over for the south siders, leading to Hinch pinch-hitting Colt Keith to face him. Keith struck out, but a line drive from Torres hit Wilson right in the back as he tried to dodge it. Wilson stayed in the game and Torres was given a single. A highlight sliding catch robbed Pérez of a hit. Tork struck out, and that was that.
Tommy Kahnle was brought in to protect the 6 run lead. He did so and has seemingly rediscovered his pitching touch of late.
The Sox sent out Dan Altavilla, a righty, to take on the Tigers. The home guys couldn’t touch him, striking out twice.
Rafael Montero relieved Kahnle hoping to seal the win. After a rough Tigers debut, the righty had thrown 9 scoreless innings coming into this game. He allowed a one-single, but continued his scoreless streak by inducing a double play ball. Game Over, Tigers win 6-0.
Detroit and Chicago will play the rubber match tomorrow afternoon in Detroit.
