The Detroit Tigers kicked off their season with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, thanks to a stellar performance from starting pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Skubal, making his first opening-day start, was dominant over six innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six batters without issuing a walk. The 27-year-old left-hander picked up where he left off last season, when he went 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA in his final five outings.
The Tigers’ offense provided just enough support for Skubal, scoring the game’s only run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Andy Ibáñez. Javier Báez singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a groundout before Ibáñez drove him in.
The White Sox, who finished with just six hits, were unable to mount any serious threats against Skubal or the Tigers’ bullpen. Garrett Crochet, making his first professional start, pitched six strong innings for Chicago, allowing one run on five hits while striking out eight.
However, the White Sox bullpen was unable to hold the lead, with Michael Kopech allowing a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning. Jason Foley came on to strike out Yoán Moncada and Luis Robert Jr. to earn the save.
The victory was a promising start for the Tigers, who are looking to improve on their 77-85 record from last season. The White Sox, on the other hand, opened their season on a familiar note, coming off a 101-loss campaign.
