The Tigers took the second game of the series against the Yankees 9-3 with thanks to a dazzling start from Tarik Skubal.
Start spreading the news… the Tigers were back in the Bronx for game two of their series against the Yankees, hoping to clinch the series win nice and early. It was going to be a pitchers’ duel for the ages though, with Cam Schlittler on the mound for the Yankees, up against Tarik Skubal for the Tigers. They would be hoping to carry through their hot bats from Monday night.
Those
hot bats certainly came to play. With two outs in the first, Kerry Carpenter homered to center. It really looked like Spencer Jones had nabbed it over the wall, but it bounced out of his glove for a home run.
Riley Greene wasted absolutely no time getting in on things, like his way of saying, “I missed out on all the fun yesterday, it’s my turn.”
Colt Keith singled. Then, a very lengthy at-bat from Spencer Torkelson ended with a Tork Bomb to left, and it seemed very likely that Schlittler–who hadn’t given up more than one run in the first before this game–would not be long for his start. He got the final out of the inning, but it took him 36 pitches to get through a single inning.
In the home half, the Yankees retaliated with a two-out home run by Ben Rice.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the second, but the Yankees did the same in the home half of the inning, so perhaps both pitchers were evening out after their first inning faux pas.
Or, perhaps not. Dingler singled to start the third, and then with one out, Greene hit another home run. Schlittler did get the final two outs, but the Tigers were up 6-0.
Skubal was looking good in the bottom of the inning, going through the lineup in order.
In the fourth, James Outman took a two-out walk, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert the baserunner. In the bottom of the inning, Tarik Skubal was showing precisely why he has two Cy Young awards, tunneling pitches that went from 100mph to 81 back-to-back and making Ben Rice look a little silly after getting that first-inning home run. Just looking really good. He went through the side in order.
Dingler opened the fifth with a leadoff double and that was it for Schlittler. Ryan Yarbrough came on to replace him. Yarbrough got the rest of the side out in order, leaving Dingler stranded. Skubal once again got the Yankees 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
The Tigers were right back on their game in the top of the sixth with a leadoff single from Torkelson. McKinstry reached safely on a throwing error from Jose Caballero, which allowed McKinstry and Torkelson to advance to scoring position. Outman then came in and hit a home run to score three. Three outs followed, but the Tigers were doing pretty well.
Max Schuemann was hit by a pitch to start the home half. Ali Sanchez then singled, bumping Schuemann to third. Paul Goldschmidt hit into a double play, but Schuemann scored as well. Skubal got the final out of the inning, and all things considered, one extra run isn’t the end of the world. Don’t make me regret writing that, Tigers.
Yovanny Cruz came in for the Yankees in the seventh, and got the side out in order. Skubal’s day was done after six innings, going 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB 9 K, 1 HR on 87 pitches (a note on the 1 ER – the second run was charged as an error to McKinstry well after the fact, so the run wasn’t credited to Skubal). A nice night from him overall, truly. Jacob Waguespack came in from the Tigers’ bullpen to replace him. With one out, Jasson Dominguez singled. Anthony Volpe then grounded into a force out, eliminating Dominguez. Waguespack got the final two outs of the inning and no runs scored.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth. In the home half, Waguespack got the side out in order.
Jake Bird was the Yankees pitcher for the ninth and gave up a leadoff single to Hao-Yu Lee, then Kevin McGonigle singled right behind him. A popout and a double play ended the inning. Tyler Holton was out of the bullpen to hang onto the Tigers’ lead. Amed Rosario got a one-out walk. With two outs, Rosario advanced to second on defensive indifference. Dominguez then singled to score Rosario, with a little help from an ugly failed catch attempt by Carpenter. Anthony Volpe singled, pushing Dominguez to third. Holton finally got out of the inning with just the one run scored, and the Tigers officially won the game and the series, with one more to play tomorrow afternoon.
