On a night when 27,282 came to Comerica Park to watch Ohtani’s historic season intersect with Miguel Cabrera’s quest for a historic homer, Skubal provided another reminder of the Tigers’ future. He couldn’t help Detroit hitters figure out Ohtani’s filthy splitter, but Skubal’s 6 2/3 innings of two-run ball gave the Tigers a chance before Ohtani’s 40th homer of the year helped seal a 3-1 Tigers loss to the Angels.
While Cabrera’s search for his 500th homer continues, Ohtani’s majestic eighth-inning drive left the crowd in awe on his way to a victory after pitching eight innings. Ohtani’s 430-foot drive to right stretched the Angels’ lead off José Cisnero after Skubal held Ohtani hitless in three at-bats, including a first-inning strikeout.
Justin Upton’s two-run home run in the opening inning, his first homer at Comerica Park since his final days as a Tiger in 2017, was the 26th home run of the season allowed by Skubal, fourth-most in the Majors. The 427-foot drive toward the flagpole beyond left-center field suggested a long night ahead, but Skubal settled in to retire 17 of his next 19 batters, including six of his seven strikeouts. After a rough midseason stretch, Skubal has tossed 17 2/3 innings of two-run ball with two walks and 17 strikeouts in three August starts.
Ohtani tossed eight innings of one-run ball and held Cabrera to a first-inning ground-ball single in three at-bats. No one might have been happier to see Angels closer Raisel Iglesias enter for the ninth than Cabrera, who jumped his first pitch and sent a towering fly ball to right that died just shy of the fence.