Detroit — It doesn’t have to be a big swing that changes a game. The Tigers, when they are playing at their best, prove this time after time.
And they did so again Tuesday night in a spirited, 6-2 win over the Athletics in the first of three at Comerica Park. Sometimes a simple walk can turn the tide.
It was a tight, 2-1 game when lefty-swinging Zach McKinstry stepped in with two outs and nobody on against lefty reliever Jacob Lopez in the sixth inning.
McKinstry battled his way to a walk, which set up a run of three straight right-handed hitters who broke the game open.
BOX SCORE: Tigers 6, Athletics 2
Spencer Torkelson singled. Rookie Ben Malgeri, pinch-hitting for James Outman, dropped a run-scoring double into shallow right field. Athletics’ second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and right fielder Lawrence Butler both converged on the ball and both backed off at the last minute.
Matt Vierling followed with a two-run double and lefty-swinging Kevin McGonigle capped the four-run outburst with an RBI single.
McGonigle, the newly-minted All-Star, had another productive day. He led off with an eight-pitch walk against Athletics’ starter J.T. Ginn and Colt Keith hit the next pitch, a cutter, 427 feet into the right-center stands. His seventh homer.
McGonigle was safe on an error and singled twice.
And he made history in the process. He’s reached base safely two or more times in 53 games, which sets an MLB record for most times doing that by a rookie before the All-Star break.
He topped Aaron Judge’s mark set in 2017.
The Tigers (41-50) have won six of their last seven games.
“We have to continue to chip away to get back into this thing,” Manager AJ Hinch said before the game. “But I feel optimistic because our team is starting to do the things that we expected to do.”
Reigning two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal got the win and lowered his ERA to 3.06. But what to make of his night, other than he packed a lot into five innings.
He started the outing by striking out the side in the first inning. He ended it by throwing 98- and 99-mph heaters past Athletics’ hitters.
But in between, he grinded.
He finished with nine strikeouts, getting 22 misses on 52 swings. But it also took him 96 pitches to get through five innings. His fastball velocity ebbed and flowed. It was down to 94-95 mph in the second and third innings.
But he was able to reach back and get 97 mph to strike out Shea Langeliers with a runner at second in the third inning. And he was back to pumping 98 and 99 as his pitch count climbed toward and beyond 90.
Through it all, there was only one run on his ledger – a solo homer by No. 9 hitter Henry Bolte leading off the third – and he left the game with the Tigers up 2-1.
This story will be updated.
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Skubal dominates, Keith homers in Tigers’ triumph over Athletics
Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Chris McCosky, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
