Tiger ace Skubal sets new postseason strikeout record with 14 Ks as Tigers beat Guardians to take series lead

Detroit Tigers' ace Tarik Skubal, who vowed to let his performance do the talking, struck out a career-high 14 batters in a single postseason game today. He led his team to a 2-1 victory on the road over the Cleveland Guardians in the Wild Card series opener, avenging a loss suffered at the same venue a week earlier when he gave up 3 runs in one inning.

His 14 strikeouts tied the Tigers’ franchise record for most strikeouts in a postseason game and marked the highest single-game strikeout total in the MLB playoffs since Gerrit Cole struck out 15 batters in the 2019 Division Series.

However, Skubal emphasized that records are not his focus: “That really doesn’t matter. What’s most important to me is winning, and that’s been the case all season. I believe winning is the most crucial aspect of sports.”

Before this, Skubal’s career high for strikeouts in a game was 13, achieved three times, twice this year including once on May 26 against the Guardians. His previous top postseason strikeout total was only 8. In this game, he pitched 7.2 innings—his second longest start ever—striking out 14, walking 3, and allowing just 3 hits. Though he gave up 1 run in the bottom of the 4th inning via 2 hits and a walk, he still helped the Tigers secure the win.

Guardians starter Gavin Williams also struck out 8 and walked 1 over 6 innings, but gave up 5 hits. In the first inning, after two outs, he allowed consecutive hits and then an error by right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez led to a run.

In the top of the 7th, Riley Greene led off with a double, and a fielding error by first baseman Jhonkensy Noel put runners on first and third, forcing Williams out of the game. After one out, the Tigers took the lead on a sacrifice bunt by Zach McKinstry. Although the run was charged to Williams, it was unearned. He ultimately surrendered 2 runs, both unearned, and was credited with the loss.

The Guardians, who once set the MLB record for the largest comeback to clinch a championship, suffered a defeat in the opening game of the Wild Card series. In this best-of-three series, the Tigers, who struggled late in the season and lost the division title, will advance to the Division Series if they win again tomorrow.

“It doesn’t matter how we got here; what matters is that we’re in the postseason,” Skubal said. “We’re all in this together, and we lead 1-0 in this best-of-three series. The process isn’t important—making the playoffs is what counts most.”