CLEVELAND – Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch reflected on the standout performance of pitcher Tarik Skubal in the high-stakes Game 1 American League Wild Card game against the Cleveland Guardians.
“Tarik set an incredible tone for us,” said Hinch. “He’s been incredible for us all season, but what a performance at the biggest moments on the biggest stage to get us in a great position to win the game.”
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Hinch noted Skubal’s efficiency and dominance, with every pitch reaching up to 100 mph.
“He didn’t let any big moment rattle him and then put an exclamation mark at the end with his last few pitches,” Hinch said.
Bunt
Regarding strategy, Hinch explained the decision to bring in Zach McKinstry in the seventh inning to lay down the perfect bunt with a man on first and third with one out in a 1-1 game.
“These games are so crazy with so many opportunities, and you feel like you’re one hit away. Given where their pitching was at, we have a play in our playbook for moments like this where it was an extreme need to take the lead with so few outs left Hinch said.”
Sending Skubal out for 8th inning
When asked about sending Skubal back out for the eighth inning, Hinch said, “I knew I could control their bench a little bit at the bottom, and then (Steven) Kwan was at the top. I told Skubal at the end of the seventh that he had three hitters and he was going to come out at that point.”
Hinch acknowledged the emotional aspect of pulling Skubal.
“He’s super hard to take out, especially when he’s as dominant as he was. When he came out after those three strikeouts, he was pumped up, fired up,” Skubal said.
Late-season challenges
Reflecting on the late-season challenges, Hinch said, “Having Skubal at the beginning of a series in any series is a huge boost for us. We needed a win, and we got a hard-fought win on Saturday. It was a great outcome.”
Skubal’s mental state
On Skubal’s mental state, Hinch emphasized, “I don’t see anything different than what I’ve seen all year. He’s likely to have hardware at the end of this year for precisely games like this. He trains super hard, never lets up, and carries us through many starts.”
Pitching arsenal
Hinch also discussed Skubal’s pitching arsenal, highlighting the slider.
“He loved the slider 3-1 to (Austin) Hedges. It’s a pitch he felt he could get in the zone. Everything ticks up with the fastball, but he’s a pitcher who uses sliders, changeups, slow curveballs, and front-door two-seamers,” Hinch said.
Guardians late scoring
When asked about the Guardians’ late scoring, Hinch said, “They just scratch and claw and come at you. Getting (José) Ramírez to third with nobody out was crazy stuff. You sort of expect that when you play Cleveland and Detroit.”
Ramírez wild play
Hinch described the roller coaster of emotions when Ramírez got on third base after a wild play.
“Never doubt. Nobody in our room or theirs had any doubt it was going to work out. You have to keep playing. Even after the first run, you’re still not out of it,” Hinch said.
With Skubal getting pulled, closer Will Vest came in to finish the eighth inning and start the ninth with a 2-1 lead.
Ramírez, on a 1-1 count, hit a line drive up the middle to Javier Báez, who snagged the ball from going into centerfield.
As he came up to throw to first, Báez threw a one-hopper to Spencer Torkelson, who stretched to make the out at first base, but he short-armed the ball, and it bounced off his foot into right field.
The play sent Ramírez to third as he hustled to third base.
With the momentum mounting, George Valera pinch-hit and struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch.
Designated hitter Kyle Manzardo stepped up to the plate in the high-pressure atmosphere inside Progressive Field and hit a blooper back to Vest, who was able to catch Ramírez in a rundown before ultimately tagging him out.
First baseman CJ Kayfus popped up on the first pitch to Báez for the final out of the game as the Tigers defeated Cleveland 2-1, taking a 1-0 series lead in the best of three.
Roller coaster of emotions
Hinch emphasized the importance of fundamentals in close playoff games.
“A fundamental play practiced way back in February to get the runner back to third was a huge out for us. Not letting the batter-runner get to second was huge,” Hinch said.
Hinch concluded, “Small things in close games matter. The ability to execute a secondary pitch to get a funky swing created a sequence of events that led us to a 1-0 lead in a three-game series.”
Skubal finished the day, tying a franchise postseason record with 14 strikeouts.
Game 2
With the victory, the Tigers move one step closer to advancing to the American League Divisional Series against the Seattle Mariners, but they will have to get through a tough Cleveland team, which will look to seek revenge in Game 2.
Look for RHP Casey Mize to take the mound for Detroit on Wednesday at 1:08 p.m. vs. RHP Tanner Bibee inside Progressive Field.