Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal throws darn 'near an immaculate inning' against Phillies
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers tied the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-2, on Saturday at BayCare Ballpark.
Detroit is 9-9-3 in Grapefruit League play.
What happened
This had the feel of a big-league game with big-name aces on the mound and big-time players in the lineup. The Phillies started Zack Wheeler, who was second in the NL Cy Young award; and the Tigers countered with Tarik Skubal, the AL Cy Young winner.
In fact, everything about this day felt like an Opening Day, if one were ever held in 84-degree weather in a beach town under bright sunshine and blue skies.
“It's always a great day when Skubal pitches because there's a different aura around the game,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said before the game. “Then you factor in where we are in the spring. It's a beautiful ballpark to come on a weekend.
"It's usually packed. Look across the way and Wheeler's pitching. Look at the top of their lineup, and you see Bryce (Harper), you see (Alec) Bohm, and you see Trea Turner.”
And Skubal didn't disappoint, recording seven strikeouts in five innings.
"People are going to say, it doesn't matter," Skubal said of a spring training game. "I can promise you, it matters to almost everybody. So, yeah, it's competitive."
In the fourth inning, Skubal had a three-pitch strikeout, a two-pitch groundout and a three-pitch strikeout of Nick Castellanos, finishing off the former Tiger with a 100-mph heater.
"That's damn near an immaculate inning," Skubal said. "So that's who I want to be."
Starting off
The Tigers cut eight players Saturday, setting the tone for the final week in Florida.
“One of the reasons that we made the cuts today is the last week should feel different,” Hinch said. “You should see more recognizable names. You should play a little bit deeper into the game. You should be in a room where you look around and every single person is trying to get on this roster.”
Wenceel Perez returned to action after about two weeks off with a back injury. He started in centerfield, where he is expected to play this season.
More: Parker Meadows fallout: Detroit Tigers have lots of CF options, including some surprises
At the plate
Hinch stresses that he is not as concerned about spring training stats. But he does pay attention to something: are you making hard contact?
Well, Colt Keith blistered the ball on Saturday. He had a two-run double, firing a shot into the left-center gap. The exit velocity was 103.6 mph. He also rifled a single recorded at 101.3.
Considering both came off Wheeler, that’s ripping the ball.
Meanwhile, it seems as if Jace Jung needs to put together a great week to make this team, in part, because Jung has not made hard contact. He had a strikeout and a flyball with an exit velo of 89.1 mph, which is not the start of the week he needed.
More: Jahmai Jones has done everything Tigers have asked: crush lefties, be aggressive on bases
On the mound
Skubal matched the moment, recording three strikeouts in the first inning, wrapped around a Bryce Harper single. He forced Turner to swing and miss at a 98-mph fastball, took down Bohm on a called third strike with another 98-mph fastball and ended the inning when Kyle Schwarber foul tipped an 88-mph changeup that catcher Jake Rogers was able to snag.
Skubal scattered six hits and gave up two runs.
"That's one of the best lineups in the game, one of the best teams in the game," Skubal said. "So when you get to come on the road in spring and kind of see where you're at and facing really good hitters, I think it's always a good opportunity."
Brian Hanifee threw 2.0 innings, holding the Phillies scoreless.
Three stars
1. Skubal. 2. Keith. 3. Hanifee.
Next up: Orioles
Sunday (1:05 p.m., no TV) vs. Baltimore in Lakeland, Fla.
MORE FROM JEFF SEIDEL: Why in the world did Detroit Tigers prospect Kevin McGonigle run out to third base?
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers' Tarik Skubal hurls 'near an immaculate inning' vs Phillies
-
Why Tigers have young All-Star Riley Greene playing center field in spring training
Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene played center field for six innings Wednesday and six innings Thursday in spring training, just in case.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Detroit Tigers slash 8 players in 4th round of spring training cuts, including .417 hitter
The number of occupied lockers in the Detroit Tigers' clubhouse at the TigerTown complex continues to shrink with just 12 days until Opening Day.Yahoo Sports - 14h -
Carlos Carrasco fans six, Yankees' backup catchers homer in win over Phillies
In his third start of spring training, Carlos Carrasco struck out six across three-plus innings in the Yankees' 6-5 win over the Phillies on Friday night at Steinbrenner Field.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Yankees belt three first-inning home runs, five total, in win over Tigers
The Yankees blasted five home runs to beat the Detroit Tigers, 10-2, on Monday afternoon in Tampa.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Why Detroit Tigers are trying Spencer Torkelson in right field
The Detroit Tigers are trying to get whatever they can out of their roster after injuries. That includes trying Spencer Torkelson in the outfield.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Pérez is lock for Opening Day, likely as No. 1 center fielder
The Detroit Tigers will be without two outfielders to start the 2025 season, allowing Wenceel Pérez to become the center fielder and leadoff hitter.Yahoo Sports - 11h -
Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows ruled out for Opening Day with nerve injury
The Detroit Tigers will be without their center fielder and leadoff hitter for Opening Day, as Parker Meadows has been ruled out with a nerve injury.Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Former Vol Aaron Combs by the numbers in MLB Spring Breakout
Former Vol Aaron Combs pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies prospects in MLB Spring Breakout.Yahoo Sports - 19h -
SEE IT: Mets’ Kodai Senga throws ‘miracle ball’ pitch in spring training game
During his second spring game, Mets ace Kodai Senga threw a slow curveball to a Cardinals hitter. Like the ghost fork, the right-hander has a name for it.Yahoo Sports - 1d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Brayden Burries delivers historic performance to lead Roosevelt to state championship
Brayden Burries scored a record 44 points to help Eastvale Roosevelt win the Open Division state championship over San Francisco Riordan.Yahoo Sports - 24m -
Dick Vitale gets emotional talking about cancer battle on Duke-Louisville broadcast
ESPN's Dick Vitale said Saturday's broadcast would be his last of this season. "Have faith and believe," he told cancer patients.Yahoo Sports - 36m -
ACC Tournament MVP Kon Knueppel proves Duke has firepower that goes well beyond Cooper Flagg
It wasn't a surprise that a Duke freshman was named the Most Valuable Player of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Saturday night. What may have been surprising is that he wasn't named ...Yahoo Sports - 43m -
Disappointed Marvin Vettori issues statement on UFC Fight Night 254 loss
Marvin Vettori's comeback did not go as planned at UFC Fight Night 254. After injuries sidelined him for the longest layoff of his career, former middleweight title challenger Vettori (19-8-1 MMA, ...Yahoo Sports - 48m -
High school basketball: CIF state championship scores
CIF state championship boys' and girls' basketball championship scores.Yahoo Sports - 52m
More in Sports
-
Brayden Burries delivers historic performance to lead Roosevelt to state championship
Brayden Burries scored a record 44 points to help Eastvale Roosevelt win the Open Division state championship over San Francisco Riordan.Yahoo Sports - 24m -
Dick Vitale gets emotional talking about cancer battle on Duke-Louisville broadcast
ESPN's Dick Vitale said Saturday's broadcast would be his last of this season. "Have faith and believe," he told cancer patients.Yahoo Sports - 36m -
ACC Tournament MVP Kon Knueppel proves Duke has firepower that goes well beyond Cooper Flagg
It wasn't a surprise that a Duke freshman was named the Most Valuable Player of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Saturday night. What may have been surprising is that he wasn't named ...Yahoo Sports - 43m -
Knicks' frustration boils over as Tom Thibodeau and Josh Hart get into heated exchange during loss to Warriors
New York has lost four of six and has the third-worst offense since the All-Star breakCBS Sports - 45m -
2025 March Madness: Conference tournament scores, automatic bids, tickets punched to Big Dance, brackets
With Selection Sunday here, check out the the teams who have earned AQ bids to the NCAA TournamentCBS Sports - 46m