Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson dominate, but Detroit Tigers strand too many runners in 1-0 loss
The Detroit Tigers took a combined no-hitter into the seventh inning Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics, only six days after New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán threw the 24th perfect game in MLB history against the Athletics.
The Athletics — the worst team in baseball — avoided another mention in the history books, thanks to a two-out single from Shea Langeliers in the seventh inning.
The Fourth of July clash between the Tigers and Athletics remained scoreless until the top of the 10th inning, when Ryan Noda hit a two-out single off left-handed reliever Tyler Holton. The Tigers were shut down in the bottom of the 10th, losing 1-0 in the first of three games at Comerica Park.
"I hate the loss," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "We had every chance to win the game. I counted seven at-bats that were pretty critical, and in those at-bats, we drew two walks. ... They won every other at-bat with the game on the line at various points. When that happens, it's frustrating."
The Tigers (37-47) finished 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and failed to provide run support for a dominant pitching performance. Left-hander Tarik Skubal and right-hander Reese Olson combined for nine innings with one hit, one walk, one hit-by-pitch and 11 strikeouts.
"It sucks," said catcher Jake Rogers. "The pitchers pitched great, all of them. That was pretty easy to catch when guys like that are on a roll. It's tough we couldn't get them some run support."
Skubal threw four innings of no-hit ball with six strikeouts in his return from the injured list and his first start in 337 days. He hadn't pitched in the big leagues since Aug. 1, 2022, because of flexor tendon surgery.
Skubal, who threw 41 of 57 pitches for strikes, was perfect until his slider hit Brent Rooker in the foot with two outs in the fourth inning.
"I'm healthy, and it was fun to go out there and compete," Skubal said. "That's kind of what the goal was, to feel good coming out of it, and I do. I'd say that's a success. ... The nerves were definitely there, but it was good to get back out there and do what I do."
Athletics left-hander JP Sears tossed 7⅓ scoreless innings with four strikeouts. In the eighth inning, the Tigers had an opportunity to break the tie following a pair of one-out singles from Zack Short and Matt Vierling.
The singles put runners on the corners for Spencer Torkelson, facing right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg. Torkelson struck out swinging for the second out, but Kerry Carpenter, pinch-hitting for Andy Ibáñez, drew a full-count walk to load the bases.
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Javier Báez, though, struck out looking on a 98.4 mph fastball painted down-and-away on the edge of the strike zone.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, right-handed reliever Shintaro Fujinami struck out Rogers, Zach McKinstry (pinch-hitting for Jonathan Schoop) and Miguel Cabrera to force extra innings.
Holton retired the first two batters in the top of the 10th inning, but the free runner in extra innings advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Noda smacked a sinker for a single into left field and a 1-0 lead.
With a free runner on second base in the bottom of the inning, right-handed reliever Trevor May retired Eric Haase (groundout) and Short (strikeout) before Vierling's walk put the result of the game in the hands of Torkelson.
Torkelson flew out to left-center.
"If the game had been tied, it may have changed a few things," Hinch said, "but being down, we want three swings, or at least ball-in-play swings for each guy, and we ended up building a chance where an extra-base hit would have ended the game."
Skubal back in the saddle
Skubal retired the first 10 batters he faced before grabbing his left leg.
His left hamstring cramped after he struck out Esteury Ruiz with an 89.6 mph slider. Hinch and head athletic trainer Ryne Eubanks visited Skubal on the mound, and once they saw a couple of warmup pitches, Skubal stayed in the game.
"I held my breath as long as I could," Hinch said. "I didn't know going out (to the mound). We saw him limp a little bit, so I guess in some ways, I was frustrated having to go out on the mound again. Once he said his leg was cramping, we all exhaled a little bit."
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He retired his 11th straight batter, Jordan Diaz, by painting the down-and-in corner of the strike zone to induce a groundout. But Skubal hit Rooker, the 12th batter he faced, with two outs in the fourth inning to spoil his perfect streak.
The Tigers removed Skubal after four innings.
"He was coming out regardless," Hinch said. "We wanted him to go about four (innings) and 60-65 (pitches)."
"The only thing that would have limited (pitching the fifth inning) would be the hamstring cramp," Skubal said. "I didn't want to really cramp, so that would be the only worry there. But I felt good. Physically, I feel good. My arm feels great. I'll take it."
Skubal struck out Ruiz in the first inning, too, with a 95.9 mph four-seam fastball for a called third strike. He struck out six batters and generated nine whiffs with three fastballs, three sliders, two changeups and one sinker.
His fastball averaged 96.4 mph — up 2.3 mph from last year's average of 94.1 mph — and maxed out at 98.4 mph. He threw 25 four-seam fastballs, 17 sliders, seven changeups, five sinkers and three knuckle curves.
Skubal posted a 3.52 ERA in 21 starts last season before his arm injury.
"I missed the wake up, like I don't know if it's anxiety, but that feeling of being ready to go and driving to the ballpark," Skubal said. "I missed all of that. It was fun to go out there and do that again. That was kind of fun for me."
Piggybacking
As planned, Olson took over for Skubal and carried the Tigers through the ninth inning with five scoreless innings.
"I treated it as normal as possible," Olson said.
Olson waked Noda with one out in the fifth inning and allowed a single to Langeliers with two outs in the seventh inning. He worked around both base runners with ease and did his part in the piggyback role.
He ended his outing by striking out Rooker in the top of the ninth inning.
"Coming into a game like that, obviously, it's great to have Skubal back," Olson said. "He pitched really well, so we're happy to have him back. I just tried to build off what he did in those first four innings."
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Olson, who completed five scoreless innings on 70 pitches, threw 25 four-seam fastballs, 24 sliders, 11 changeups, eight sinkers and two curveballs. He generated seven whiffs with three fastballs, two sliders and two changeups.
His fastball averaged 95 mph.
Olson owns a 4.02 ERA in seven games (five starts) this season.
"It's a weird game for him," Hinch said. "Probably the first ninth inning he's ever pitched in professionally. He held his own and did great. He gave up the one seeing-eye base hit the other way and was pretty flawless after that. ... I love his effort. That's exactly what we needed from a bullpen standpoint."
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson dominate, but Detroit Tigers lose to A's, 1-0
