Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal steady through 5 innings in 4-4 tie with Blue Jays
DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers tied the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-4, on Sunday at TD Ballpark, remaining at 12-11 in Grapefruit League play.
What happened
Left-hander Tarik Skubal made his final start before the regular season and looked shaky in the first inning, issuing a walk and single to his first two batters. Then, he locked in. The 24-year-old gave up one run on three hits and one walk, with three strikeouts, through five innings. In the seventh inning, Daz Cameron — playing center field — made a diving play on the warning track to rob Austin Martin of extra bases. For the third out, Niko Goodrum made a strong play in left field.
The Tigers took the lead in the eighth inning. After Riley Greene singled, Kody Clemens followed with another single. This time, the right fielder made an error, allowing Greene to score without a throw home. Three batters later, Nomar Mazara launched his first home run this spring on a 2-1 changeup to drive in two more runs. Righty Beau Burrows gave up a solo homer and two walks in the ninth inning. He squandered the lead on Logan Warmoth's two-RBI double.
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Starting off
Recently, Skubal has struggled to command his fastball, making it a concern when he walked the leadoff hitter. But that was the lone walk Skubal allowed, and he didn't give up more than one hit in a single inning. While he only got eight swings-and-misses, he limited damage through weak contact. Skubal's fastball averaged 94.4 mph and maxed out at 97 mph. Of his , he earned three with his fastball, two with his slider, two with his cutter and one with his splitter. He allowed a run in the first inning when Bo Bichette grounded into a double play.
At the plate
The Tigers recorded eight hits, and the total was spread out among eight different hitters. Mazara had the most impactful hit, crushing a two-run homer to left field. But the team got hits from Greene, Clemens, Niko Goodrum, Akil Baddoo, Harold Castro, Isaac Paredes and Zack Short, as well. No. 1 prospect Spencer Torkelson got an at-bat in the ninth inning; he flied out to the deepest part of center field, just before the warning track.
On the mound
Right-hander Bryan Garcia entered for the sixth inning and picked up two strikeouts. He threw 19 pitches (12 strikes), averaging 95.1 mph with his sinker. Garcia allowed a double and walk with two outs but got a strikeout looking to end his outing. Left-hander Tyler Alexander pitched two scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth innings. Using 34 pitches (25 strikes), he gave up two hits and no walks while picking up two strikeouts. After Burrows lost the lead, right-hander Drew Carlton entered with two outs. He needed six pitches to end the game.
Three stars
1. Skubal, 2. Mazara, 3. Alexander.
Next up
Monday against New York Yankees in Tampa.
Evan Petzold is a sports reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal steady through 5 innings vs. Blue Jays
