Skubal Strikes Out 13, Wins 10th Straight Decision as Tigers Beat Twins 3-0
Tarik Skubal struck out 13 hitters in seven innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 3–0 on Sunday night. Skubal (10–2) only allowed one hit–a clean single to right by Ty France in the fifth inning–as he improved to 10–0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last 15 starts. The last double-digit streak in one season by a Detroit lefty was Earl Whitehill's 11-start stretch in 1930.
The strikeouts matched Skubal's career high, last done on May 25 in his 94-pitch shutout against the Guardians. Chris Paddack (3–7) gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings for the Twins. The Tigers took a 1–0 lead on Kerry Carpenter's solo homer in the first inning, and he added an RBI triple in the fifth before leaving the game with an apparent leg injury. Riley Greene hit a solo homer in the fourth. Will Vest pitched the ninth to pick up his 13th save.
Key moment: Skubal struck out eight of the first nine hitters, including seven in a row, before Byron Buxton lifted a fly ball to Riley Greene on the warning track in left. Buxton is 2 for 15 (.133) in his career against Skubal, though both hits have been homers.
Key stat: Skubal is 5–0 in June, making him the third Tigers pitcher to be 4–0 or better in the month in the last 25 years. The other two, Justin Verlander in 2011 and Max Scherzer in 2013, each won the American League Cy Young Award.
Up next: Twins LHP Joe Ryan (8–3, 2.86 ERA) starts against Marlins RHP Edward Cabrera (2–2, 3.78) in the series opener in Miami on Tuesday. Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (5–9, 4.80) faces Nationals RHP Trevor Williams (3–9, 5.65) in Washington on Tuesday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Future of NASCAR's Downtown Chicago Weekend Is Unclear Going Into the Third Year of Contract
When it comes to NASCAR's upcoming return to downtown Chicago, Julie Giese has a long list of responsibilities. The track president is monitoring an ambitious construction schedule for the street course, to go along with everything else that goes into the busy weekend. What happens next is going to have to wait. The future of NASCAR in Chicago is murky going into its third edition on the first weekend in July. The three-year contract between the motorsports organization and the city that was announced in 2022 has two mutual options, and their fate is unclear. Giese said there have been good conversations between NASCAR and the city, and there is time to work on the possibilities beyond the event. 'So really right now the focus is on, 'let's execute a really great 2025,'' Giese said. 'We'll continue to have the conversations with the city. But right now, honestly, the more consistent conversations are the planning conversations.' Messages were left by The Associated Press seeking comment from Mayor Brandon Johnson's office. Johnson's predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, was in charge when the original agreement between NASCAR and the city was finalized. The Athletic reported on June 18 that NASCAR was nearing an agreement to put a street race in the San Diego area next year. An announcement could come as soon as July. Asked if she had spoken with NASCAR or anyone in the San Diego area about a Southern California street race, Giese said her focus is on Chicago. She also said she feels there is room for multiple street courses on NASCAR's calendar. 'We have multiple road course races on the schedule,' she said. 'So I mean … I've not ever heard where it has to be one or the other. I mean there is room. This event we went into it that first year knowing full well it was a proof of concept. And we showed that it is possible.' The Xfinity and Cup Series races in Chicago–held on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park–are the main events in a festival-like weekend that also includes music and entertainment options. It is geared as much to a new audience in one of NASCAR's most important regions as it is to the most ardent racing fans. NASCAR used to race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, a 45-mile drive from downtown, but it pulled out after the 2019 season. 'This is a top-three market for us worldwide, frankly, for NASCAR fans,' NASCAR executive Ben Kennedy said when the Chicago event was announced in 2022. There was some concern for drivers and their teams about the course ahead of the first weekend, and it wasn't exactly warmly received by local businesses and residents because of the street closures in a heavily trafficked area for tourists in the summer. But organizers have shrunk the construction schedule from 43 days in 2023 to 25 this year. Based on input from fans, they also have made adjustments to the race viewing areas and moved the concert stage to the start-finish line. Admission is free for kids 12 and under on Saturday and Sunday this year. The weekend also has won over at least some people inside of NASCAR. 'This was very different. But now it's fun to see and hear from people in the industry that are coming in early, and they're going to just enjoy the city for a few days,' Giese said. 'The one piece that I hear from our drivers especially is they love just staying right at a hotel right across the street. They're walking across Michigan Avenue and they're at the course. Quite often with an umbrella.' Wet weather had a major effect on each of the first two editions. Heavy rain nearly scuttled the inaugural weekend, and last year's Cup Series race was shortened because of a rain delay and fading sunlight. When the drivers were on the course, the racing was compelling. Shane van Gisbergen outdueled Justin Haley and Chase Elliott on his way to a historic Cup victory in 2023, and Alex Bowman stopped an 80-race drought with his victory last year. 'I think they've been up against it as far as conditions are concerned,' Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin said. 'The track has been good, it's been racy and has passing zones, and the scenery is fantastic as far as the backdrop we are racing in. There's a lot of positives for the Chicago Street Race. It will probably move around in the future, but it's in the mold in which I would like to see any street race they continue to implement in the future.'
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Guardians Look To Rebound Before All-Star Break After One Of Worst Offensive Months In Team History
To say June was a bad month for the Cleveland Guardians would be an understatement. One of the worst offensive months in team history would be more like it. The Guardians went 9–15 in June and had a .206 batting average, which is tied for the third-worst batting month in franchise history with at least 13 games played. 'We need to score more. We need to get more going,' manager Stephen Vogt said. 'We're all trying to be perfect right now, whether it's pitchers, position players, doesn't matter. Everybody's trying to be perfect. We need to relax. We need to just take a deep breath, take a step back and go play baseball.' Cleveland, which is on a four-game losing streak, begins a three-game series at the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. At 40–42, they are 2 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot after being five games over .500 and in wild-card position on June 1. Last season, the Guardians won the AL Central and reached the AL Championship Series. The Guardians dropped five of six on its recent homestand and were shut out three times. They have scored runs in only two of the last 40 innings. They scored 72 runs during the month, the third-fewest they have scored in a June in franchise history. 'I think it's frustrating, but if we knew the answer we would've done it two months ago,' outfielder Nolan Jones said. 'We have the arms to compete against anybody and have some guys who have been swinging it well and some guys like myself who haven't been contributing a ton.' José Ramírez is seventh in the American League with a .309 batting average and leadoff hitter Steven Kwan is 11th at .295. The rest of the everyday lineup, though, doesn't have anyone batting above .250. The organization hoped catcher Bo Naylor would bounce back after batting only .201 last season, but that hasn't happened. Naylor has a .168 average and mired in a 1 for 31 slump since June 10. Outfielders Lane Thomas and David Fry–the heroes of last year's AL Division Series victory over Detroit–have also struggled with injuries and slow starts at the plate. Fry missed the first two months after undergoing offseason elbow surgery and is 6 for 43 with 21 strikeouts since returning. Thomas–who had stints on the IL because of wrist and foot injuries–is batting .168 but is 6 for 24 in his last seven games. The lack of offense is not surprising, as it was a potential concern during spring training. The Guardians go into July with a .226 team average, second-lowest in the majors. Despite the offensive struggles, the Guardians continue to get solid pitching. The staff had a 3.79 ERA in June, which was eighth-lowest in the majors. Shane Bieber was hoping to be back by the All-Star break after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last April, but his comeback is delayed by elbow soreness. Chris Antonetti, Cleveland's president of baseball operations, did credit Naylor as one reason for the pitching staff's solid month. 'The pitching staff has not wavered, and the fact that he's been able to help, and he's been a big part of that group making progress over the last couple months and separate his offense out from that, it's a great credit to him,' Antonetti said. Whether help is on the way through the minors or other moves leading up to the July 31 MLB trade deadline is something to keep an eye on. Outfielder Chase DeLauter is batting .305 in Triple-A Columbus with a 26-game on-base streak, while first baseman/outfielder C.J. Kayfus has 10 home runs and a .303 average. The biggest concern with DeLauter remains injuries. He was contending for a roster spot during spring training before having surgery in March to address a sports hernia injury. 'We're constantly thinking about 'How do we find that right mix of guys to give us the best chance to compete each night at the major league level?' And we do believe that we will get reinforcements and support from some players that are not yet at the major league level,' Antonetti said. 'I think as we look forward, the results will be better from here than they've been over the last month. I don't think the last month is indicative of the potential of the guys that are on the roster.' After a difficult June, the schedule doesn't get any easier for the Guardians. After the Cubs series they host AL Central leader Detroit for three games before a seven-game road trip to Houston and the Chicago White Sox ahead of the All-Star break. 'We've got 13 games in a row coming up after this off-day. We have an opportunity to get it rolling, and that's the way I look at it,' Vogt said. 'This is a really talented team. I believe in each and every one of these guys, and I know we're going to break out of it.'
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia are set to join the WNBA as expansion franchises starting in 2028
A look at the three expansion teams that the WNBA is adding over the next few years: Cleveland First year of play: 2028. Majority ownership group: Dan Gilbert, who owns the Cleveland Cavaliers. Where they'll play: Rocket Arena, home of the Cavaliers. Practice facility: Retrofit a facility in Independence, Ohio, that is currently used by the Cavaliers. What they're saying: 'They're a ready-made operation–arena, demographic, the psychographic, all the data, those numbers,' WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. 'I'm a data geek. All the data we've been looking at as it relates to what would make a successful franchise and obviously look no further than what we already did in the Bay Area.' Detroit First year of play: 2029. Majority ownership group: Tom Gores, who owns the Detroit Pistons. Minority owners: Grant Hill, Chris Webber, Jared Goff. Where they'll play: Little Caesars Arena, home of the Pistons. Practice facility: Building a new facility. What they're saying: 'I think this will be bigger than just the basketball team coming back. It's recognition of all the things that are happening in the city. And finally, I think it's going to have a real economic impact,' Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem said. Philadelphia First year of play: 2030. Majority ownership group: Josh Harris, who owns the Philadelphia 76ers. Where they'll play: A new arena being built in downtown Philadelphia. Practice facility: The 76ers have a practice facility in Camden, New Jersey. What they're saying: 'Philly fans are passionate, they are full on. They hold you accountable and they hold everyone accountable–the players, the team, the ownership–and you know we embrace that and embrace them,' said Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment Managing Partner and co-founder Josh Harris, who owns the 76ers. 'There's a lot of names who've come out of Philly, women's and men's basketball, and there are a lot of girls playing basketball in Philly right now, and this is something that needed to happen.'
