The Detroit Tigers took a combined no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Oakland Athletics, only six days after New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán threw the 24th perfect game in MLB history against the Athletics.
The Athletics — the worst team in baseball — avoided another mention in the history books, thanks to a two-out single from Shea Langeliers in the seventh inning.
The Fourth of July clash between the Tigers and Athletics remained scoreless until the top of the 10th inning, when Ryan Noda hit a two-out single off left-handed reliever Tyler Holton. The Tigers were shut down in the bottom of the 10th, losing 1-0 in the first of three games at Comerica Park.
The Tigers (37-47) finished 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and failed to provide run support for a dominant pitching performance. Left-hander Tarik Skubal and right-hander Reese Olson combined for nine innings with one hit, one walk and one hit-by-pitch.
Skubal threw four innings of no-hit ball with six strikeouts in his return from the injured list and his first start in 337 days. He hadn’t pitched in the big leagues since Aug. 1, 2022, because of flexor tendon surgery.
Skubal, who threw 41 of 57 pitches for strikes, was perfect until his slider hit Brent Rooker in the foot with two outs in the fourth inning.
Athletics left-hander JP Sears tossed 7⅓ scoreless innings with four strikeouts. In the eighth inning, the Tigers had an opportunity to break the scoreless game with a pair of one-out singles from Zack Short and Matt Vierling.
The singles put runners on the corners for Spencer Torkelson, facing right-handed reliever Lucas Erceg. Torkelson struck out swinging for the second out, but Kerry Carpenter, pinch-hitting for Andy Ibáñez, drew a full-count walk to load the bases.
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Javier Báez, though, struck out looking on a 98.4 mph fastball painted down-and-away in the strike zone.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Athletics right-handed reliever Shintaro Fujinami struck out Jake Rogers, Zach McKinstry (pinch-hitting for Jonathan Schoop) and Miguel Cabrera to force extra innings.
Holton retired the first two batters in the top of the 10th inning, but the free runner in extra innings advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Noda smacked a sinker for a single into left field.
The Athletics took a 1-0 lead.
With a free runner on second base, Right-handed reliever Trevor May retired Eric Haase (groundout) and Short (strikeout) in the bottom of the 10th inning before Vierling’s walk put the result of the game in the hands of Torkelson.
Torkelson flew out to left-center field.
Skubal back in the saddle
Skubal retired the first 10 batters he faced before grabbing his left leg.
It happened after he struck out Esteury Ruiz with an 89.6 mph slider. Athletic trainer Ryne Eubanks and manager A.J. Hinch visited Skubal on the mound, and once they saw a couple of warmup pitches, Skubal stayed in the game.
He retired his 11th straight batter, Jordan Diaz, by painting the down-and-in corner of the strike zone to induce a groundout. But Skubal hit Rooker, the 12th batter he faced, with two outs in the fourth inning to spoil his perfect streak.
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Skubal struck out Ruiz in the first inning, too, with a 95.9 mph four-seam fastball for a called third strike. He struck out six batters and generated nine whiffs with three fastballs, three sliders, two changeups and one sinker.
His fastball averaged 96.4 mph — up 2.3 mph from last year’s average of 94.1 mph — and maxed out at 98.4 mph. He threw 25 four-seam fastballs, 17 sliders, seven changeups, five sinkers and three knuckle curves.
Skubal posted a 3.52 ERA in 21 starts last season before his arm injury.
Piggybacking
As planned, Olson took over for Skubal and carried the Tigers through the ninth inning with five scoreless innings.
Olson waked Noda with one out in the fifth inning and allowed a single to Langeliers with two outs in the seventh inning. He worked around both base runners with ease and did his part in the piggyback role.
He ended his outing by striking out Rooker in the top of the ninth inning.
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Olson, who completed five scoreless innings on 70 pitches, threw 25 four-seam fastballs, 24 sliders, 11 changeups, eight sinkers and two curveballs. He generated seven whiffs with three fastballs, two sliders and two changeups.
His fastball averaged 95 mph.
Olson owns a 4.02 ERA in seven games (five starts) this season.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold.