Tarik Skubal fans 14, Tigers edge Guardians 2-1 to kick off playoffs

CLEVELAND -- Tarik Skubal struck out a record-setting 14 over 7 2/3 innings and Riley Greene scored on Zach McKinstry's go-ahead sacrifice bunt in the seventh, giving the Detroit Tigers a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of their American League wild-card series on Tuesday afternoon.

Reigning Cy Young Award winner Skubal (1-0) allowed one run on three hits and walked three in a 107-pitch gem. The left-hander made his third consecutive start against AL Central champion Cleveland in a 13-day span and beat them for the first time.

Skubal broke the mark of 13 strikeouts in a wild-card game, previously held by Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, both in 2020. Will Vest recorded the final four outs for the save.

The Guardians put a runner on third with no outs in the ninth as Jose Ramirez singled and advanced on a throwing error by shortstop Javier Baez. Vest quelled the threat by striking out George Valera, tagging out Ramirez on Kyle Manzardo's grounder back to the mound, and inducing a popout by pinch hitter C.J. Kayfus.

Both Tigers runs off Guardians starter Gavin Williams (0-1) were unearned thanks to errors by Johnathan Rodriguez in the first and Jhonkensy Noel in the seventh. The right-hander scattered five hits and one walk over six-plus innings, striking out eight.

Greene led off the seventh with a double and moved to third when first baseman Noel dropped the throw from Brayan Rocchio on Wenceel Perez's grounder. McKinstry's one-out bunt to Noel came against reliever Hunter Gaddis, easily bringing home Greene.

The Tigers got on the board in the top of the first on Spencer Torkelson's single to left field, plating Kerry Carpenter from second. Guardians right fielder Rodriguez mishandled Carpenter's single while attempting to pick up the ball.

Gutsy baserunning by Angel Martinez allowed Cleveland to tie it 1-all in the fourth. Martinez was on second when Gabriel Arias hit a chopper over Skubal, who fielded the ball behind the mound, but not in time to beat Martinez to the plate.

Home plate umpire Shane Livensparger initially called Martinez out, but it was overturned on a replay challenge by Guardians manager Stephen Vogt as Martinez's hand slid under Dillon Dingler's tag.

The Guardians won eight of the teams' 13 regular-season contests after beating Detroit in five games in the 2024 AL Division Series.

--Brian Dulik, Field Level Media