“Outstanding” - Guardians manager tips cap to Tarik Skubal as Tigers claim Game 1 of Wild Card Series

MLB: Wildcard-Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Guardians - Source: Imagn
Guardians manager tips cap to Tarik Skubal as Tigers claim Game 1 of Wild Card Series - Source: Imagn

Tarik Skubal was arguably the best pitcher in MLB on Tuesday as the wildcard rounds began. Skubal spearheaded a 2-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians after a 14-K gem that left the opposing manager in awe.

Ad

The Tigers ace delivered a strong outing under pressure. Skubal threw 7.2 innings, allowing only one earned run on three hits and three walks. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt was impressed by Skubal.

"It was outstanding," Vogt said in the post-game conference. "That was what an unbelievably pitched game we just all got to watch. Tarik Skubal was outstanding. You know, punched out 14. We couldn't get anything going off of him."
Ad

The only run Guardians could score against Skubal was an error from the pitcher in the fourth inning. A ground ball flew over Skubal's head, who went back but couldn't collect it cleanly. The Guardians runner came around to score. While he was initially ruled out at home plate, Vogt overturned the call through review. Vogt said:

"The way Tarik Skubal threw the ball tonight, I don't know if anybody's scoring off of him. He was absolutely outstanding. It took a little bit of guard ball turmoil there just to get one and really battled. But he was some kind of special today."
Ad
Ad

Stephen Vogt impressed with Guardians SP

Going head-to-head with Tarik Skubal from the other end was Guardians ace Gavin Williams. After giving up an RBI single to Spencer Torkelson in the first inning, Williams did his best to keep the Guardians in the game.

In the third inning, when there were runners in scoring position, Williams induced a clutch double play followed by a strikeout to end the inning. Both of the Tigers' runs were scored off errors as Williams finished his outing with six innings without any earned runs tagged to him while striking out eight times.

Ad
"Filling up the strike zone, landings, breaking stuff, getting swing and miss," Vogt said. "That was a really, really well pitched game by both sides."

The Guardians' late-season surge to make the wildcard round could end on Wednesday if they cannot beat the Tigers in Game 2.

Quick Links

Edited by Krutik Jain
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
down arrow icon
More
bell-icon Manage notifications