The Detroit Tigers defeated the Houston Astros 3-1 in Game 1 of the American League wild-card series at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday.
Houston loaded the bases in the ninth inning before Jason Heyward lined out to end the game.
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal dominated the AL West champions, striking out six through six scoreless frames in his first postseason start.
The southpaw struck out Astros catcher Yainer Diaz with a 99-mph fastball to finish his tremendous outing.
Skubal is the fourth pitcher in Tigers history to throw six shutout innings in his playoff debut, joining Max Scherzer, Joe Coleman, and Ed Willett, according to Tigers PR.
“Skub is Skub,” Tigers catcher Jake Rogers said, according to MLB.com’s Jason Beck.
“If this is your first time watching him, that’s what he’s done all year. He’s been electric, he’s been in the zone, and he’s challenged guys all year. It’s hard to say (anything) other than Skub was Skub. It was awesome.”
Detroit scored all three of its runs against Astros starter Framber Valdez in the second inning. Two of the club’s three RBIs came from the bottom of the order, with Rogers and Trey Sweeney driving in a run apiece.
The postseason win is the Tigers’ first since 2013.
Game 2 between the Astros and Tigers takes place Wednesday at 2:32 p.m. ET in Houston.
Right-hander Hunter Brown will start for the Astros, while the Tigers starter remains unknown.
