Skubal Shines, Tigers Edge Rays to Stay in Playoff Hunt
DETROIT — Tarik Skubal delivered a dominant performance, allowing just two hits over seven scoreless innings, as the Detroit Tigers secured a crucial 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
Skubal (18-4), a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award, struck out seven batters and walked just one. He’ll have a chance to earn his 19th win on Sunday should the Tigers need him to secure a postseason berth against the Chicago White Sox on the season’s final day.
The Tigers (83-74) entered the day tied with Kansas City for the second and third wild-card spots — the Royals hold the tiebreaker — and one game ahead of the Minnesota Twins. Despite being sellers at the MLB trade deadline, Detroit has compiled a remarkable 28-11 record since August 11, the best in the league during that span.
Reliever Beau Brieske retired the first five batters he faced before Brandon Lowe homered with two outs in the ninth inning, pulling the Rays within 2-1. However, Brieske struck out Josh Lowe for his first career save.
Tampa Bay (78-79) fell five games behind the Tigers in the tight playoff race.
Wenceel Pérez reached base three times for Detroit, drawing two walks before delivering a two-run double in the fifth inning.
Tampa Bay starter Ryan Pepiot (8-7) surrendered two runs on three hits and four walks over six innings.
The Tigers had their first scoring opportunity in the fourth inning, placing runners on the corners with one out. However, Pepiot induced a pop out from Colt Keith before striking out Spencer Torkelson.
Detroit loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning, thanks to two walks and a single. Perez fell behind 0-2 in the count but battled back to a full count before hitting a ground-rule double on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, driving in two runs.
The game was originally scheduled for 6:40 p.m. but was moved to 1:10 p.m. due to a forecast for rain. Showers then delayed the start by an hour.
Detroit called up right-hander Jackson Jobe, one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, to bolster their bullpen in the final week of the season. They created a roster spot for him by designating righty Shelby Miller for assignment.
UP NEXT
The teams will square off in the second of their three-game series on Wednesday. Detroit will send RHP Keider Montero (6-6, 4.86 ERA) to the mound, while Tampa Bay will counter with RHP Zack Littell (8-9, 3.56).