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Tarik Skubal amazes on mound for first complete game
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal. Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tarik Skubal amazes on mound for first complete game as Tigers avoid sweep 

Finally able to slow down the Guardians, Detroit took Game 4 of its weekend series with a 5-0 victory on Sunday.

To avoid the sweep, starter Tarik Skubal amazed on the mound, and the Tigers offense scored almost as many runs in the final game of the series as they had in the previous three days. 

After scoring only six runs through three games, Detroit finally exploded with a big five-run fourth inning. That fourth inning was all the Tigers needed to secure their 34th win of the season and maintain their strong lead in the American League Central division. 

In that fourth inning, Zach McKinstry hit his third home run of the season with one on and one out. McKinstry's bomb was a two-run shot. 

Gleyber Torres and Andy Ibanez both drove in runs with doubles as well. 

Conversely, after scoring 17 runs in the first three games of the series en route to compiling four straight wins over divisional opponents that also included one over Minnesota on Wednesday, Cleveland ran into a pitcher it couldn't figure out.  

Nine-inning complete games are rare these days, but Skubal went the distance on the bump of Comerica Park for the first of his career.

Skubal completely dominated the Guardians lineup, striking out 13 while giving up only two hits in his full nine-inning shutout.

Skubal is now 5-2 on the season in 11 starts with 92 strikeouts and an ERA below three at 2.49. He even holds a WHIP of 0.84, as he has one of the best overall spreads in the league.  

And following the conclusion of the series, Detroit has a four-game lead over Cleveland and a bit of a slimmer advantage ahead of the Twins for a lead in the division standings. 

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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