ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — It was inherently an outstanding beginning by Tarik Skubal that led toA 2-1 victory for the Detroit Tigersdefeated the Texas Rangers on Sunday night, ending the team's six-game losing skid, which was the longest of the season for the club with the top record in Major League Baseball. Nevertheless, Skubal was not given the win.
The current AL Cy Young Award holder and pitcher inTuesday’s All-Star GameMoved into the seventh inning with a two-hit shutout and a fragile 1-0 advantage. He departed with runners on both sides and two outs, and the Rangers' Adolis GarcÃa scored due to a wild pitch from Tyler Holton.
However, Matt Vierling from Detroit hit a game-tying single with two outs in the eighth inning, and Will Vest came in during the eighth to record four consecutive outs — facing the top four hitters in Texas' lineup — securing his 16th save for the Tigers (60-40).
Skubal exited the game with 10 victories (just one less than the AL leader), 164 strikeouts (one fewer than Boston's Garrett Crochet), and a 2.19 ERA (shared with Crochet as the top in the American League).
We were the first to reach 60, right? That's more important (than his individual stats)," Skubal stated. "We just haven't been playing our best baseball, I don't think, over the past few weeks. That's just part of the season. Not because we're not trying or anything like that. But I knew I wanted to win today. I expect every time I take the mound to put our team in a position to win, and we managed to do that.
Skubal recorded 11 strikeouts without issuing any walks in his seventh game this year with double-digit strikeouts. The last batter he struck out was Jonah Heim, bringing his total pitch count to 105, just three shy of his career high.
Tigers' manager A.J. Hinch mentioned that Skubal "gave it his all" during the Heim at-bat and decided to make a pitching substitution to prevent him from being overexerted.
"If we're heading anywhere (this season), we're doing it with him," Hinch stated.
Two of Texas' four hits against Skubal came from Corey Seager, the only left-handed batter in the lineup facing the left-handed Skubal. Seager had a 2-for-3 performance against Skubal, raising his record to 8 for 12 in his career against him.
Skubal mentioned that he inquired with Seager during last year's All-Star events: "Dude, how do I get you out? Can you let me know?" According to Skubal, Seager politely refused and stated he doesn't see the ball clearly when facing him.
"When he's correct, the things he accomplishes at the plate, they're the top in the league," Skubal stated.
Skubal is once more among the top pitchers in baseball. He contributed to ending the majors' longest ongoing losing streak, even without securing a win for himself.
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