Tigers Defeat Astros 3-1 in Wild Card Game

The Detroit Tigers secured a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series, marking the team's first playoff win in a decade. Tarik Skubal delivered a stellar performance, pitching six scoreless innings while striking out six, effectively neutralizing Houston's lineup and showcasing his Cy Young-caliber talent. The Tigers capitalized on Framber Valdez's struggles, scoring three runs in the second inning through a series of timely hits, including three two-out singles. Although the Astros mounted a late-game rally in the ninth, they only managed to score one run before Jason Heyward's lineout ended the game with the bases loaded. This win gives the Tigers a statistical edge in the series, as historically, teams winning Game 1 have advanced 14 out of 16 times in this format. Game 2 of the best-of-three series is scheduled for Wednesday in Houston.