Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Watch: Tigers score first run of 2024 postseason from unlikely source

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Oct 1, 2024 3:39 PM ET

Thanks to an unlikely source, the Tigers seized an early lead in Game 1 of their road wild-card series against the Astros.

Catcher Jake Rogers, who hit .197 during the regular season, drove in the game's first run on a two-out single against Houston starting pitcher Framber Valdez.

Gritty Tigs: October Edition

Jake Rogers drives in the first run of the #postseason! pic.twitter.com/1zE2mfYG6b
— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2024

Rogers drove Valdez's sinker to centerfield, driving in right fielder Wenceel Perez. Per Baseball Savant data, Rogers posted his lowest batting average (.127) on sliders during the regular season.

Houston's ace entered the postseason with a 2.91 earned run average (ERA) in 28 regular season starts, posting a 15-7 win-loss record.

Detroit (86-76) added two more runs in the inning to give itself a 3-0 lead after two-and-a-half innings.

That might be enough with starting pitcher Tarik Skubal on the mound.

Skubal is the likely AL Cy Young winner after completing the pitching triple crown. He finished the regular season with league-highs in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228) in helping lead the Tigers to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Over his last nine starts, Skubal is 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 55.2 innings.

Detroit leads Game 1 of the three-game wild-card series 3-0 through four innings.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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