DETROIT — Tarik Skubal needed only one weapon Sunday night: his changeup. The Tigers’ ace rode that pitch to a dazzling 3-0 shutout of the Twins on “Sunday Night Baseball,” piling up 13 strikeouts and surrendering just a single hit across seven innings.
First two frames: Skubal struck out five of the first six hitters — all swinging. According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, it marked the ninth time he has whiffed at least five batters through two innings, the most by any Detroit pitcher since the mound was lowered in 1969.
Third inning: The 2024 AL Cy Young winner punched out the side, mixing 99 mph four-seamers with diving changeups. By the time the third ended, he had fanned eight — a personal best for the first three innings.
Skubal completed a strikeout of every hitter in Minnesota’s lineup before yielding his first knock: a harmless single in the fifth. He carried a no-hit bid into that frame and did not issue a walk until a full-count free pass in the sixth.
In the seventh, Skubal registered strikeout No. 12 on — what else? — a changeup, then froze Ty France at 99 mph for his 13th and final K, a new single-game high.
Final line: 7 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 13 K, 0 R.
Detroit’s offense gave Skubal all he needed: Kerry Carpenter hammered a first-inning homer and later added an RBI triple, accounting for two of the Tigers’ three runs.
ERA: Drops from 2.29 to 2.15.
Record: Improves to 10-2.
Strikeouts: Climbs to 138, fourth-most in MLB.
WHIP: Remains an MLB-best 0.87.
On a night when everything clicked, Tarik Skubal reminded Comerica Park — and the rest of baseball — why he owns the Cy Young hardware.
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