Tarik Skubal Delivers Historic Complete Game for Tigers

As the ninth inning approached, Tarik Skubal stepped onto the mound at Comerica Park, greeted by a thunderous ovation from the crowd. Fans of all ages chanted his name, creating an electric atmosphere that marked a significant moment in his career.

"I was a little teary-eyed out there, honestly, before the inning started," Skubal reflected after the game. "It was pretty cool. I just thought to myself, `12-year-old me wouldn't believe that was an opportunity to have the fan base support you the way it does and be in that moment.'

His performance was indeed special. Skubal allowed just two hits while striking out 13 batters without issuing a walk, leading the Tigers to a 5-0 victory over Cleveland. This marked his first complete game as a professional, and he ended it by striking out Gabriel Arias with a blistering 102.6 mph fastball—the fastest strikeout pitch recorded by a starting pitcher since 1988.

According to Sportsradar, Skubal is now the only major leaguer to throw a shutout with 13 or more strikeouts and fewer than 100 pitches since pitch counts were tracked. Last season, he won the AL Cy Young Award and claimed the league's pitching Triple Crown, but prior to this outing, his longest game had been eight innings against Boston.

The 28-year-old, who previously played for Seattle University, hadn't completed a game since two seven-inning outings during his freshman year in 2015. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch had been cautious with Skubal's pitch count in recent games, averaging 95 pitches over his last three starts. However, Skubal's efficiency allowed him to reach this milestone.

"Sometimes, it's your big boy's day and you've got to leave him out there," Hinch noted, emphasizing the importance of allowing Skubal to finish what he started.

Skubal's dominance was evident as he did not allow a hit or walk through five innings. His perfect game bid ended when Will Wilson doubled on the second pitch of the sixth inning. "After two (innings), you think about it," he admitted.

Finishing with just 22 balls thrown in a 94-pitch outing, Skubal (5-2) allowed only one additional hit and hit one batter. He made franchise history as the first player to achieve a complete game without a walk, allowing two or fewer hits while striking out 13 batters.

Additionally, he became the first Tiger to record 10 or more strikeouts in four consecutive home games, with his final pitch being the fastest thrown by a Tiger since at least 2015. "I don't know what to say because you don't see it very often," Hinch remarked. "When he's got full intensity and full throttle, the sky is the limit."

This complete game was the eighth in Major League Baseball this season and marked Skubal's fifth individual shutout. Despite this achievement, it did not erase the sting of Cleveland's Lane Thomas hitting a grand slam off him in Game 5 of their AL Division Series last Saturday.

"There's no story there," Skubal stated regarding that previous matchup. "I got a ton of respect for a lot of guys in that dugout, including their manager."

The admiration is mutual; Cleveland's manager Stephen Vogt praised Skubal's performance, declaring, "He's the best pitcher in baseball and he showed it today."