Tarik Skubal had an unforgettable regular season, marked by strong performances, strikeouts, and victories. However, his postseason will be remembered for just one inning. And one pitch.
With Detroit’s season on the line, the left-handed pitcher allowed a grand slam to Lane Thomas, leading to five runs against Skubal in the fifth inning of Saturday’s 7-3 loss to the Guardians in Game 5 of the AL Division Series.
For Skubal and the Tigers, who had a surprising two-month run to reach the postseason and swept Houston in the wild-card round, the ending was tough to accept.
“Obviously, not the outcome you want, but I’m so proud of this team,” Skubal said, feeling he could have done more for the Tigers. “It’s incredible what we did. We should be very proud.”
For months, the 27-year-old Skubal was the only bright spot for the Tigers, who were out of playoff contention and on track for another low finish in the AL Central before going 35-16 after August 10.
Skubal led the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts, achieving the pitching triple crown that will likely earn him the AL Cy Young Award. He would gladly give that up for another chance to pitch in October.
After keeping the Guardians scoreless for four innings and extending his postseason scoreless streak to 17 innings, Skubal allowed a leadoff single to Andrés Giménez in the fifth. He struck out Brayan Rocchio, but then Steven Kwan, who batted .524 (11 for 21) in the series, hit a single.
David Fry, who hit a pinch-hit homer in Game 4 to help the Guardians tie the series, reached base with a weak infield single, loading the bases.
Skubal’s scoreless streak ended when he hit José Ramírez on the left hand, bringing in Cleveland’s first run.
The next four runs came quickly as Thomas hit Skubal’s first pitch, a 96.9 mph sinker that was too good to hit, over the wall in left-center for his second homer of the series.
“What a swing,” Skubal said. “The moment was the moment. I’d love to have it back, but earlier in the game, they had the bases loaded and didn’t score. In that moment, I was focused on making the pitch, and I didn’t do it.
“I thought my stuff was fine all day, even in the fifth.” Thomas, who had grounded out and popped out in his first two at-bats, was excited just to connect against Skubal.
“With the success that guy’s had this year, you have to respect the fastball at all times,” he said. “He finally threw me one over the plate. I told our hitting coach, ‘Man, I’ve never seen someone throw that hard and locate it so well against me.’
“You just kind of tip your cap. He threw one over the plate … and I was able to get a good swing on it.”
When Skubal came out after six innings, he received hugs and handshakes from all the Tigers players. Manager A.J. Hinch wasn’t going to blame his left-handed pitcher and made sure Skubal knew that.
“Obviously, he gave everything he could and more,” Hinch said. “Today wasn’t his fault. He was in complete control of the game, and I wish we could have scored some runs for him to give him a little breathing room. That was a big blow.
“This one is going to bother him all offseason because of what was at stake. But give me that guy again in a playoff series, in a deciding game, and I look forward to putting his name in the starting lineup as a pitcher.”
