Skubal's 14 Ks Lead Tigers to Game 1 AL Wild Card Victory Over Guardians

Tarik Skubal delivered a dominant pitching performance, tying a 53-year-old Detroit Tigers postseason record with 14 strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings, leading the Tigers to a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series. Skubal's outing was highlighted by his consistent velocity, reaching over 100 mph multiple times, and his ability to maintain focus under pressure, striking out the side in the seventh inning. The Tigers scored both runs unearned due to defensive errors by Cleveland, with a key go-ahead sacrifice bunt by Zach McKinstry in the seventh inning. Cleveland threatened late in the game, loading the bases in the ninth, but Tigers reliever Will Vest secured the save by striking out two and tagging out a runner attempting to score. This victory marked Detroit's first postseason win since 2017 and was seen as a redemption moment for Skubal, who had been part of recent frustrating losses to Cleveland. The win gave Detroit a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, showcasing the continued importance of strong starting pitching in the MLB postseason.