Photo: Lon Horwedel ~ Imagn Images
DETROIT, MICH. ~ Tarik Skubal’s emotional return to Detroit was one of the biggest storylines of Friday night’s game at Comerica Park. The former Tigers left-handed pitcher made his first appearance in Detroit since being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this month and received a standing ovation from fans during a pregame tribute video. Skubal, who spent more than six seasons with the Tigers and won two American League Cy Young Awards, appeared emotional as he returned to the mound wearing a Dodgers uniform for the first time.
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(CONTINUED) Once the game started, Skubal delivered the type of performance Detroit fans became accustomed to seeing. The Dodgers left-hander pitched six innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven Tigers batters and issuing no walks. Second baseman Gleyber Torres doubled to begin the game, but Skubal settled in and retired 12 straight hitters. Detroit’s only run against him came in the fifth inning when center fielder Max Clark delivered an RBI triple. Skubal exited after 83 pitches with the game tied.
The game remained tight throughout the night, but the Dodgers came away with a 2-1 victory. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when center fielder Max Clark drove in first baseman Eduardo Valencia with an RBI triple. Los Angeles answered in the sixth inning when pinch hitter Miguel Rojas delivered a game-tying RBI single, and the Dodgers took the lead for good in the eighth when first baseman Freddie Freeman hit an RBI single. The Dodgers bullpen held Detroit scoreless over the final three innings to secure the win after Skubal’s six-inning no-decision.
