No need to rise: Detroit Tigers prove 'the bar is high' with big win vs. Chicago Cubs
It was a special night at Comerica Park.
More than 40,000 fans packed the ballpark. The National League-leading Chicago Cubs were in town. The best pitcher in the world took the mound and dominated once again, backed by stellar defense at every turn. A slugger crushed a clutch home run, and a freshly promoted player added insurance on the first pitch he saw.
Advertisement
In the end, MLB's best team delivered one of its biggest wins of the season.
The Detroit Tigers won, 3-1.
But the Tigers didn't need to rise to the occasion.
They're already there.
"I don't know how much we have to rise," said manager A.J. Hinch, whose Tigers improved to 42-23 this season — and 73-36 in 109 games since Aug. 11, 2024. "I appreciate the thought of raising the bar, but the bar is pretty high around here. I really appreciate our players bringing it every day."
THE GAME: Spencer Torkelson supports Tarik Skubal with home run in Tigers' 3-1 win over Cubs
Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) walks off the field after a pitching change against Chicago Cubs during the eighth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, June 6, 2025.
Everything started with left-hander Tarik Skubal, the reigning American League Cy Young winner who pitched into the eighth inning, but it was the Tigers' flawless defense that set the tone for their ace on Friday, June 6, in the opener of a three-game series against the Cubs.
Advertisement
There were so many highlight-reel plays.
Celebrate the Tigers' 125 seasons and Father's Day with our new book!
The Tigers put on a clinic.
"You come to expect it out of this team," Skubal said. "We play hard, and that's what happens when you play hard."
Shortstop Javier Báez made a strong throw to beat Carson Kelly in the second inning, then slid to rob Kyle Tucker of a hit in the fourth and caught Pete Crow-Armstrong trying to return to third base in the fifth. Left fielder Riley Greene made a leaping catch to deny Crow-Armstrong in the second. Third baseman Zach McKinstry dazzled with a backhanded play into foul territory to nail Nico Hoerner in the third. Catcher Dillon Dingler threw out Matt Shaw stealing second in the eighth inning.
Advertisement
And then there was right fielder Kerry Carpenter's catch in the eighth inning.
"Big moment in the game," Skubal said.
Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter (30) hugs infielder Jahmai Jones in the dugout before the game between Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, June 6, 2025.
The Tigers had a 2-1 lead, but the Cubs had runners on the corners with two outs in the eighth. After back-to-back hits, the Tigers replaced Skubal with right-handed reliever Will Vest for a matchup with Seiya Suzuki.
Why did Hinch pull Skubal this time?
Because Suzuki entered Friday's game hitting .339 with a 1.173 OPS against left-handed pitchers — compared to just .247 with a .785 OPS against righties.
"We got to get a righty on him at that moment," Hinch said.
Suzuki hit a high fly ball to right field.
Advertisement
It looked like a routine out.
But the ball kept carrying.
"I was like, 'Stay here, stay in the ballpark,'" Hinch said. "When he hit it, you feel really good, and then watching Carp go back and back and back, and then I still thought he had it, and then the jump is when I really started to feel a little nervous because you don't know how far it's going."
Carpenter reached the warning track, leapt as far as he could, extended his glove and stopped the ball from hitting the top of the wall.
His catch ended the top of the eighth.
Carpenter held up his glove to show he made the catch. Vest shouted in celebration as he strode confidently off the mound. And in the dugout, Skubal flexed his arms, bent over and unleashed his biggest roar of the night.
Advertisement
The Tigers' ace was fired up.
"We play every game with a fire, and we want to win every game," Skubal said. "When the competition is who they are, and the record is what it is — this weekend was going to be fun regardless, just with the fans, but you bring a good team into town — you want to win a series and put a good product out for fans to keep coming back. It's going to be a ton of fun the next two days."
NEW POSITION: Tigers' Colt Keith is going to play third base. Here's what it means
The dominance from Skubal and the catch from Carpenter stole the show in Friday's series opener, but the Tigers wouldn't have won the game if not for Spencer Torkelson blasting a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning.
Advertisement
Then Jahmai Jones added insurance with a pinch-hit homer off a left-handed reliever in the eighth — on the first pitch he saw after arriving from Triple-A Toledo.
The swing from Jones is the latest example of why the Tigers own the best record in baseball. On any given night, any player can contribute to a win, even one who wasn't on the roster that morning.
The Tigers don't just count on a few big names.
They get help from everyone.
"The biggest thing is, it's just everyone together," Jones said. "It really is an all-in mentality with every single person in here. Everybody is bought into whatever their role is, and everybody has the same goal, which is ultimately to win a World Series."
Advertisement
JEFF SEIDEL: Jahmai Jones overcame losing his Detroit Lion father to become a Detroit Tiger
Before Friday's game, the Tigers called up Jones to fill Andy Ibáñez's role against left-handed pitchers. The role often includes pinch-hitting for Carpenter late in games.
That's exactly what happened in the eighth.
Injured Matt Vierling shared tips on how Jones should prepare for a potential opportunity, and by the fourth inning, he had settled into his pinch-hit routine — and in the eighth, he delivered when it mattered most.
"I'm proud of him. I'm happy for him. I'm happy for our team," Hinch said of Jones, who has played 70 MLB games with five teams in parts of five seasons. "He's grinded a lot throughout his career, and he comes up here and immediately contributes."
Advertisement
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
If there was ever a World Series preview in early June, this may have been it — the AL's best versus the NL's finest, Skubal staring down Cubs star Kyle Tucker and A.J. Hinch squaring off against Craig Counsell in a managerial chess match, all in front of a sellout crowd.
The Tigers came out on top in Game 1.
And it wasn't a surprise.
"We're a good team," Hinch said.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Advertisement
Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.
Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at Tigers125.PictorialBook.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers back up record: 'I don't know how much we have to rise'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
17 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Encarnacion-Strand lifts the Reds over the Diamondbacks 4-3 in 10th inning of suspended game
CINCINNATI — Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered in the sixth inning to tie the game before it was suspended Friday night and then hit a walk-off double in the 10th on Saturday to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3. Encarnacion-Strand's heroics came in his first game since April 17 after coming off the injured list Friday. It was the first walk-off win this season for the Reds (31-33) and their first victory in extra innings. Encarnacion-Strand hit his third home run — a one-out solo shot off rookie Cristian Mena to tie it at 3-all in the sixth. Mena got pinch hitter Gavin Lux to ground out with men on to end the inning before rain stopped play. Ketel Marte hit his 12th home run — a two-run shot in the third — and Geraldo Perdomo followed with his sixth as Arizona grabbed a 3-0 lead. TJ Friedl hit his fifth homer — a two-run shot in the bottom half — to make it 3-2. Tony Santillan (1-1) struck out two in a scoreless 10th for the win. Graham Ashcraft struck out four in the first two innings Saturday and Emilio Pagán fanned two in a perfect ninth. Starter Nick Lodolo allowed three runs on five hits in six innings. Ryan Thompson (1-2) was tagged with the loss after Encarnacion-Strand drove in mandatory runner Jake Fraley. Starter Eduardo Rodriguez gave up two runs on six hits in five innings. Reliever Jalen Beeks struck out 3 of 5 batters after play resumed. Encarnacion-Strand's homer on Friday came just in time to take a rain-shortened win away from the D-backs and force a suspension. Five of Arizona's six hits came in the first five innings. Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (2-1, 3.43) will start the regularly scheduled game against Reds RHP Nick Martinez (3-6, 3.89). ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trade Idea Sends Dolphins' Jonnu Smith to Steelers
Trade Idea Sends Dolphins' Jonnu Smith to Steelers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dolphins and the Steelers renewed trade talks surrounding tight end Jonnu Smith earlier this week. The Smith trade conversation has a gone back and forth like a seesaw over the last couple weeks, but it's landed back in the direction of the Dolphins listening to offers. Advertisement The Steelers seemed like a suitable trade partner prior to the signing of Super Bowl champion quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and now it looks like an even better fit. The Steelers do have Pat Freiermuth who has caught at least 60 passes in three of his four years in the NFL with the Steelers. However, the addition of Smith would add another weapon, and upgrade at the position for Rodgers. Pittsburgh has already been active on the trade market this offseason with the addition of DK Metcalf and the departure of George Pickens. Metcalf cost the Steelers a second-round pick and the Pickens trade involved an additional seventh-round pick in exchange for a third-round and fifth-round pick. Now, the Steelers have the opportunity to add Smith to an offense with Metcalf, Robert Woods, Jaylen Warren and rookie Kaleb Johnson at running back, alongside a future Hall of Famer at quarterback. Advertisement Not to mention, Smith has a connection with the Steelers new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Smith coached the tight end in Tennessee, and then was his offensive coordinator. Three years later, Smith was the head coach of the Falcons with the current Dolphins' tight end playing for him. Arthur Smith and Jonnu Smith have plenty of experience together, which is a main reason the Steelers are such a viable trade target for the Dolphins tight end. The proposed trade idea by Bleacher Report's Kurt Benkert for Smith to the Steelers had the Dolphins getting a fourth round pick in return. However, in his other six trade proposals, the Dolphins were getting a mix of fifth or sixth round picks in return. This seems more like the accurate price for the veteran tight end, but it'll ultimately come down to how much the desired team values Smith. Advertisement With all of this being said, it's not a done deal that Smith gets dealt. His agent has said Smith would love to play in Miami in 2025, and Mike McDaniel said he wants Smith on the team. But, football is ultimately a business and only time will tell where Smith ends up playing in 2025. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Washington Post
23 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Gonsolin joins Glasnow, Sasaki and Snell among 14 Dodgers pitchers on injured list
ST. LOUIS — Tony Gonsolin was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday by the Dodgers because of right elbow discomfort, joining fellow rotation members Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell among 14 Los Angeles pitchers on the IL. NL West-leading Los Angeles activated relievers Kirby Yates from the 15-day IL and Michael Kopech from the 60-day IL before Saturday's game against St. Louis and designated right-hander Chris Stratton for assignment, one day after he rejoined the team. Gonsolin, a 31-year-old right-hander, made his season debut on April 30 after recovering from Tommy John surgery on Aug. 18, 2023, and was 3-2 with a 5.00 ERA in seven starts. He last pitched Wednesday in a 6-1 loss to the New York Mets , allowing three runs — two earned — three hits and three walks in five innings. Other Dodgers pitchers on the IL are right-handers Luis García, Brudar Graterol, Michael Grove, Edgardo Henriquez, Kyle Hurt, Evan Phillips, River Ryan, Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone and Blake Treinen. Kopech, a 29-year-old right-hander, had been sidelined since spring training with right shoulder impingement and had a 15.63 ERA in nine rehab appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City from May 8 through last Sunday. Yates, a 38-year-old right-hander, had been sidelined since May 17 because of a strained right hamstring. He is 3-2 with a 4.34 ERA in 22 relief appearances, striking out 31 and walking six in 18 2/3 innings. Stratton, 34, signed with the Dodgers on May 25, three days after he was released by Kansas City. He was designated for assignment on June 2, refused an outright assignment to Oklahoma City, then re-signed with the Dodgers a day later. He has made a pair of appearances for Los Angeles, totaling three innings. ___ AP MLB:
