Athletics Rally to Defeat Tigers 8-3 Behind Grand Slam in Sacramento

Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal delivered a strong performance on August 25, 2025, striking out 12 batters and allowing only one earned run through 6.2 innings against the Oakland Athletics. Despite his early dominance and a 3-1 lead entering the seventh inning, Skubal faltered late, surrendering a five-run inning highlighted by a two-out grand slam from Shea Langeliers, which ultimately led to an 8-3 Athletics victory. The inning was extended by defensive miscues, including errors by Zach McKinstry, which contributed to all five runs being unearned. Skubal reached double-digit strikeouts for the 10th time this season and maintained solid season stats, including a 2.49 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, but his recent August performances have been uncharacteristically uneven. The Athletics, while out of postseason contention in 2025, showcased their potential with a strong comeback, especially from Langeliers and bench player Nick Kurtz, who hit a two-run homer later. The Tigers look to rebound in upcoming games, despite this setback and a two-game losing streak following a prior five-game winning run.