October 1, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (34) and Detroit Tigers pitcher Bob Brisk (4) during the 2024 MLB Game at Minute Maid Park Celebrating after defeating the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the wild-card round of the playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina -Imagn Images HOUSTON — Tarik Skubal spun through six scoreless innings in Game 1 of the American League wild-card series on Tuesday as the bottom of the order sparked an early rally that left Detroit The Tigers defeated the Houston Astros 3-1.
Detroit leads 1-0 in the best-of-three series that resumes Wednesday. It was the Tigers' first playoff win since Game 4 of the 2013 American League Championship Series against Boston.
Skubal (1-0), considered a favorite to win the AL Cy Young Award, fits that pedigree. He allowed four singles and walked one four-base hit while recording six strikeouts. Skubal retired the Astros in the first, second and fifth innings in turn and was particularly effective in base traffic, limiting Houston to 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. But 5 were stranded.
With runners on first and second base and two outs on third, Skubal induced a Kyle Tucker flyout, eliminating that threat. Skubal struck out Jeremy Pena and Victor Caratini with runners on first and second to end the fourth inning and hit a two-out single by Alex Bregman A base hit followed by a strikeout of Yana Diaz sealed the win in the sixth inning. Skubal threw 88 pitches, 64 of which were strikes.
The Astros countered with lefty Flamber Valdez, whose second-inning woes proved punishing.
The Tigers followed in the footsteps of Vincel Perez and Spencer Torkelson, launching a two-out game with a single and a one-out walk. Torkelson rallied from the 0-2 hole to load the bases, and the Tigers extended the inning when Parker Meadows hit a double grounder.
Jake Rogers and Trey Sweeney batted in the eighth and ninth, respectively, and Matt Vierling followed with back-to-back RBI singles for Rogers and Sweeney. Pounced on the sinker, then Wehrling recorded an exit velocity of 108.3 mph on the changeup. Valdez struck out Justin Henry Malloy to end the insurrection, but three runs proved to be enough against Skubal.
In addition to three runs, Valdez allowed seven hits and walked two while recording three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
The Astros made a last-ditch effort with Tigers reliever Jason Foley in the ninth inning. Jordan Alvarez (double), Alex Bregman (single) and Yana Diaz (RBI single) hit the ball one after another to make the score 3-1. After a sacrifice bunt pushed runners to second and third with one out, Tigers right-hander Bobrisk came on and got the final two outs, including allowing Jason Heyward to score on Torkelson came to line at first base, stranding the bases-loaded runner.
——MK Bower, on-site media