Skubal, figure in Tigres’ triumph; Royals and Mets take advantage

Tarik Skubal has become one of the best starters in the Major Leagues. With pitches that smoked yesterday at Minute Maid Park, home of the brand new Astros, the number one candidate to win the American League Cy Young Award led the Detroit Tigers to victory (3-1) against Houston, in the start of the wild card round of the playoffs.

Skubal, winner of the triple crown of pitching By leading in games won, ERA and number of strikeouts, he earned that honor in his postseason debut. By keeping the renowned local hitters blank, the Tigers not only contained the rebellion of the Astros in the last inning, but also took the lead in a best-of-three series, which will continue this Wednesday.

Despite reaching the World Series in two of the most recent three years, with a win in 2022, Houston is now in danger of suffering an early exit. All this based on the stellar performance of Skubal, a figure of some Tigres who return to playoffs after 10 years of absence.

Against the most dangerous hitters, the Californian showed solvency throughout six complete innings, in which he distributed chocolates six rivals and allowed only four hits. To correspond to that task, the Tigers scored three runs – all in the second inning – off Dominican starter Framber Valdez and added seven hits in four and a third rolls.

Wenceel Pérez was in charge of scoring the first line after a single by Jake Rogers. The visitors did not give up and extended the distance through Austin Meadows and Rogers himself. With Skubal’s fastballs from the mound, the Astros’ attempts to react did not prosper despite the push of thousands of fans.

The locals couldn’t beat the Detroit relievers either until they started one of their characteristic comeback warnings in the ninth inning. Zach Dezenzo put them on the board for the first time and the Astros managed to get closer after loading the bases when they had two out.

In the decisive action, Jason Heyward hit a pitch from left-hander Beau Brieske, but the ball was caught at first base by Spencer Torkelson, sealing the visitor’s victory. That ninth inning was crazy, but we overcame it and took the victoryhighlighted Jake Rogers. Also, Skub was Skub again, he was electric. He challenged rivals all year.

Yesterday the other wild card series were also inaugurated. Bobby Witt Jr was in charge of having an outstanding debut in the postseason, driving in the only run with which the Kansas City Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 1-0 in the corresponding duel in the American League. A solid six inning effort by Cole Ragans backed up Witt Jr.’s winning play.

The Royals, who had not played a postseason game in nine years, thus had a triumphant return. Witt Jr, a 24-year-old shortstop who led the major leagues with 211 hits and a .332 batting average, he singled to left field off a Corbin Burnes fastball, when there were two outs in the sixth episode. Venezuelan Maikel García scored after stealing second base.

Right after Witt Jr broke the zero, Patrick Mahomes, quarterback star of the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL, posted on social networks: Come on, Royals!. Mexican Ramón Urías went 1-for-3. Sam Long, Kris Bubic and Lucas Erceg, who earned the save, nullified Baltimore for the rest of the game.

In the other series, the New York Mets accomplished the task of beating the Milwaukee Brewers (8-4), thanks to a two-run single by Mark Vientos that broke the tie in the fifth inning.

With information from Ap and Afp