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New York Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Instead of Tarik Skubal vs. Paul Skenes, a doubleheader descended into chaos
DETROIT — Before the ejections and the altercations, before the delays and the chaos, everyone wanted to know about the pitching. Here at the Detroit Tigers' Comerica Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates were in town. Wednesday's game was postponed due to the threat of severe weather. That meant Tigers ace Tarik Skubal would be pushed to one of the games in Thursday's doubleheader. Advertisement Also pitching that day? Paul Skenes, the second-year phenom who — alongside Skubal and a select few others — can make a claim for the title of the most electrifying pitcher in the sport. When it comes to Skubal and Skenes, there are clear differences. One is left-handed, and one is right-handed. One pitches with an imposing high leg kick, the other with a deceptive swivel. One is mustachioed, the other clean-shaven. But both are, as Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, the names you circle in the probables section. The guys everyone wants to watch. The closest thing this sport has to a next generation of workhorse aces. So when Wednesday's game was rained out, it seemed momentarily like the baseball gods were orchestrating a Skubal-Skenes showdown. Skubal was down for it. 'No doubt,' he said. 'I like going against the game's best.' Skenes, it seems, had no objection to facing off against Skubal. 'That would have been cool,' he said. Hinch, though, asked Skubal which game he preferred to pitch in. Skubal chose Game 1, citing the more controlled start time, the more normal feeling of pregame preparation. In the Pirates clubhouse, Skenes and left-hander Andrew Heaney discussed how they would handle the doubleheader. 'He wanted the day game,' Skenes said. 'So I was like, 'All right, I'll take the night game.'' There was no intervention. No reversal of the decisions. The showdown between aces was not meant to be. Instead, Thursday's split doubleheader turned into a study in chaos. It started early. With inclement weather in the area, Game 1 began with a delay. First pitch was pushed back from 1:10 p.m. ET to 1:50. By the time the game started, rain was falling, more than just a soft drizzle. Skubal pitched the first inning with water dripping from the brim of his hat. A pitcher who had walked only three batters in his past 36 innings issued two walks in the first inning. The Pirates loaded the bases, though Skubal escaped unscathed. Advertisement In the dugout after the inning, Skubal cursed and let out his frustration. 'It just felt like we could have started that game a little bit later,' Skubal said. 'Warming up, it was coming down pretty good. So I think that's what I was more frustrated at. My hat was literally leaking water in front of my face as I'm pitching. It's like, why didn't we just wait?' Skubal recovered from the rocky first inning. He pitched much like himself, even if a slightly more human version. He went 5 2/3 innings, gave up two earned runs and notched six strikeouts. The Tigers won 9-2. After the game, there were still hints of frustration at how it all unfolded. 'That was frustrating, for sure,' Skubal said of the conditions. 'But their guy is playing in it just like you are. You can't let it affect you, and I probably did let it impact me a little bit. That's something I can take away. In the future, don't let outside things you can't control impact your emotions.' By Game 2, the weather had cleared. Skubal had talked of wanting to zero in and watch Skenes. 'Hopefully, we tag him a little bit, but his stuff is pretty good,' Skubal said. He ended up watching the opposing ace pitch in 73-degree weather, sunny and with shadows that generally favor pitchers. Skenes appeared dominant as ever through the first four innings, using his curveball and toying with Tigers hitters. But by the fifth, Skenes' mortal side also showed. He threw balls on eight of nine pitches (thanks in part to a tight strike zone) and walked two batters. Tigers hitters chipped away at his pitch count. The game slowly descended into chaos. There was an interference call on a grounder to second base that had Pirates manager Don Kelly on the field arguing and Hinch on the other side of the field talking with another umpire. Advertisement Gleyber Torres eventually ripped a double to left field and brought in two runs. Skenes returned for the sixth and finished his day with a strikeout of Zach McKinstry on a 98.7 mph fastball. His final line, except for five walks, was identical to what he did last season in Detroit, when he and Skubal also started opposite ends of a doubleheader: six innings, three hits, two earned runs and nine strikeouts. But the Pirates bullpen blew a 4-2 lead when Colt Keith hit an opposite-field homer in the seventh. Skenes has a 1.85 ERA, but Thursday marked his 12th start with either a loss or no decision. Dennis Santana is swinging at fans from the bullpen — Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 20, 2025 Somewhere around the seventh inning, the hysteria really set in. Video began circulating online of Pirates reliever Dennis Santana leaping at the bullpen wall and taking a swipe at a fan who, it seems, had been heckling him. The fan was ejected, according to a Tigers spokesperson. 'You guys know me and know my temper,' Santana said via an interpreter, addressing his confrontation. 'I'm a calm person. They just crossed the line a few times. I would like to leave it like that.' Santana, fresh off an altercation, entered in the ninth inning with the score tied. He recorded one out as a dark cloud inched toward Comerica Park. Rain soon started pouring again. The game entered a one-hour, 15-minute delay as fans huddled on the concourse. When play finally resumed, the game went into extras. Hinch was ejected for the first time all year after a close play at the plate involving Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham stood after review. 'I hate '(call) stands,'' Hinch said. 'When you say it stands, it's like making no call to either affirm or take it away. That brings a lot of frustration. They showed it up on the big board. I gotta defend my team. The angle that they put up on the board looked like he was out.' Three fans have been ejected behind home plate. The Detroit crowd started a 'Tommy sucks' chant as they were being escorted out. — Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles) June 20, 2025 Later in the 10th, Pham was on deck when home-plate umpire Dexter Kelley appeared to call time and began pointing toward the stands. Pham, clearly angered, was also motioning toward the stands. Stadium security ended up escorting a group of three fans sitting in the Tigers' high-end Home Plate Club out of the park. It's unclear what they said, and Pham did not speak with reporters. In a statement, MLB said the fans were removed for 'inappropriate comments in order to protect a player on the field.' Advertisement 'I didn't see it,' Kelly said. 'I guess fans were saying something to him, and he didn't take kindly to it. Security did a great job of de-escalating that situation pretty quick.' The close play at the plate changed the complexion of the inning. The Pirates scored four runs and went on to an 8-4 victory. The small crowd that remained booed umpires and chanted 'Tommy sucks' as the game dwindled to its end. In all, at least four fans and a manager were ejected. Two players were embroiled in a dispute. A day that should have been centered on two star pitchers turned into a swell of controversy. What could have been a great day for baseball ended as an ugly mess. (Photo of Paul Skenes talking to umpire Chris Guccione in the sixth inning: Rick Osentoski / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tarik Skubal vs. Paul Skenes won't happen this time. But players agree it would've been fun
Much has been made of the doubleheader between the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, June 19, at Comerica Park, mostly centered on the fact that Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal and Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes will both pitch in the twin bill, but not against each other. It's a missed opportunity for a pitching matchup between two of the best in the game. But what do the players think about it? Advertisement 'I don't really care,' Tigers left fielder Riley Greene said. 'I don't really think too much about it, honestly,' Pirates right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller said. To the players, they care that their pitchers do well and that the guy on the opposing mound has a bad day. Whether it's their best guy against the opposing team's best guy doesn't matter as much as whether they have the best chance for victory. 'Just go up there and do the same stuff that I would normally do,' Tigers second baseman Colt Keith said. 'Good pitchers have bad games. Just be ready to take advantage of it.' That said, it would've been good for the fans. Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch (14), right, talks to pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) for a pitching change during the eighth inning against Chicago Cubs at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, June 6, 2025. Skenes has 1.78 ERA on the season. He's allowed just four earned runs in his last seven games and thrown 50 strikeouts over 47.1 innings. His record might be 4-6, but the Pirates score an average of 2.33 runs in his losses and were shut out in three of them. Advertisement And Skubal on the mound is always a treat. In 14 games this season, the defending American League Cy Young Award winner has a 1.99 ERA and 111 strikeouts, fourth in MLB. Skubal, combined with how potent this Detroit offense has been, is why the Tigers have baseball's best record. Skenes (0.81) and Skubal (0.85) are also first and second in MLB, respectively, in walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP). Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the Houston Astros at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. But on a Thursday in June, with the playoffs months away, matchups like that take place when the rotations happen to align. Both teams will prioritize what's best for their players and their rotations. Advertisement Furthermore, Skubal requested to pitch the earlier game, which makes sense given he was scheduled to pitch Wednesday, June 18, before storms rolled through metro Detroit. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said he respected Skubal's preference and stuck to the rotation. 'I went to Tarik and asked them which game he wanted. He said the early one,' Hinch said. 'At that point, we're going to lock in Tarik for the game that he can prepare for. … I guess I could have gone to Tarik and said, 'Hey, Skenes is pitching Game 2. You're going to move to Game 2.' And I imagine, while cool, he would have said, 'I'm going to pitch Game 1.'' PURR-FECT GAME: Tarik Skubal's 2025 MLB All-Star Game bid: Ace reaching heights not seen since 1875 A spokesperson for the Pirates said starting Skenes in the second game was a managerial decision based on what was best for the team. Advertisement 'They probably don't want to face Skubal while they have Skenes on the mound because that's their best chance to win,' Keith said matter-of-factly. That doesn't mean the players — and managers — wouldn't want to watch a matchup like that. 'It's two of the best pitchers going at each other, so yeah,' Greene said. 'It'd be a quick game,' Detroit right fielder Zach McKinstry joked. 'It'd be cool to see. They're both dominant pitchers. They're two of the top ten in the league right now.' 'From a baseball standpoint, of course,' Hinch said. 'It's cool when the matchup is as incredible as those two were to happen. Advertisement But Hinch and the rest know how this works. 'From the strategy standpoint, just doing it for the sake of doing it, I'm going to take care of my guy and let the baseball work itself out how it does,' Hinch said. Maybe next time. Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Why Tarik Skubal vs. Paul Skenes won't happen today
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers work Paul Skenes but lose 8-4 (10) to Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 2
If Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal is the best pitcher in baseball, then Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes is the second-best. Skenes hadn't allowed more than one run since May 6 — a stretch of seven starts — but the Tigers scored two runs against him in the fifth inning Thursday, June 19, during Game 2 of the doubleheader at Comerica Park. Advertisement It didn't matter. The Tigers lost, 8-4m in 10 innings. The Pirates took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 10th inning, when Tommy Pham — the free runner — scored from second base on Ke'Bryan Hayes' single to right field. The Tigers challenged, but the call on the field was upheld. After the determination, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was ejected by second base umpire Chris Guccione, the crew chief, for arguing the result of the replay review. In a tie game, the Tigers and Pirates endured a 1-hour, 15-minute rain delay with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. The game ultimately went into extra innings. Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, June 19, 2025. SKUBAL SPEAKS: Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal on F-bomb at Mother Nature, Paul Skenes fandom, Game 1 desire Advertisement Skenes allowed two runs on three hits and five walks with nine strikeouts across six innings, throwing 105 pitches. The 23-year-old owns 1.85 ERA in the second year of his MLB career, spanning 16 starts. The Tigers (48-28) split the doubleheader against the Pirates, but they still won the three-game series. Everything changed in the seventh inning. That's when Colt Keith swung at a two-strike fastball way above the strike zone. He didn't hit the ball extremely hard, but he sent it flying down the left-field line — and all the way over the fence for a two-run home run. It tied the game, 4-4. In the 10th inning, Hayes hit a two-strike sinker from left-handed reliever Brant Hurter on the ground and into right field. Right fielder Kerry Carpenter threw a bullet — clocked at 90.6 mph — to catcher Jake Rogers, who tagged Pham at home plate. Advertisement It was a bang-bang play. And it looked like Pham was out. But the replay review upheld the call on the field — safe. After taking a 5-4 lead, the Pirates tacked on three more runs for a four-run breakthrough in the top of the 10th inning. GAME 1: Tarik Skubal gets plenty of run support in Detroit Tigers' 9-2 win over Pittsburgh Pirates Before extra innings, the Tigers got scoreless efforts from three relievers: left-hander Matt Gage for the final two outs in the seventh inning, right-hander Tommy Kahnle in the eighth and righty Will Vest in the ninth. In the ninth, Vest struck out Oneil Cruz with a slider and Andrew McCutchen with a fastball to strand runners at first and second base. After McCutchen's strikeout, Vest pounded his chest and unleashed a roar in celebration. Advertisement [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] HOT RETURN: Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Pérez is 'messing up scouting reports' with switch-hit success Facing Paul Skenes Skenes shut down the Tigers until the fifth inning. Before then, the Tigers had their best scoring opportunity in the third inning, with runners on first and second — a double from Rogers and a walk from Keith. The momentum evaporated when Gleyber Torres grounded into an inning-ending double play. But Torres redeemed himself. Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (30) breaks his bat grounding out in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 2 at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, June 19, 2025. In the fifth, Rogers walked and Sweeney walked to set the table for Torres again. This time, the Tigers had runners on first and second with two outs. Advertisement Skenes hung a slider. Torres didn't miss. He drove the middle-middle slider to shallow left-center field, driving in Rogers from second base and Keith from first base. An aggressive send from third base coach Joey Cora created the second run, with the relay throw off-line. Skenes issued his fifth walk — the most in a game in his 38-start MLB career, topping four starts with four walks apiece — with two outs in the sixth inning, but he escaped by striking out Zach McKinstry to conclude his outing. Tyler Holton struggles The damage from the Pirates occurred early against left-handed reliever Tyler Holton, who worked as an opener ahead of right-hander Keider Montero. He cruised through the first inning, but the second inning wasn't friendly to him. Advertisement Holton surrendered three runs on two home runs. Detroit Tigers pitcher Tyler Holton (87) pitches in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 2 at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Nick Gonzales provided a 1-0 lead with a solo homer off Holton's middle-middle cutter; Jared Triolo extended the lead to 3-0 with a two-run homer off Holton's middle-down fastball. He has been leaving too many pitches over the heart of the plate. Holton established himself as one of MLB's best relievers throughout the 2023 and 2024 seasons, with a 2.15 ERA in 179⅔ innings combined. The 29-year-old hasn't been the same in 2025, posting a 4.72 ERA in 34⅓ innings. The Pirates scored their fourth run in the third inning, when McCutchen hit a solo home run. That was the only run allowed by Montero, responsible for one run on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts across five innings. Advertisement Montero threw 77 pitches. Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers rally, but flop in 10th inning for 8-4 loss to Pirates
Washington Post
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Kiner-Falefa has 2-run single in 10th as Pirates beat Tigers 8-4 to earn doubleheader split
DETROIT — Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a two-run single in a four-run 10th inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 for a split of a doubleheader Thursday. The Tigers won the first game 9-2 behind four RBIs from Riley Greene. Pinch-hitter Ke'Bryan Hayes led off the 10th with a single to right, scoring pinch-runner Tommy Pham from second. The Tigers challenged the call, and A.J. Hinch was ejected for arguing after the call was upheld. Nick Gonzales singled, and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third. An intentional walk to Jared Triolo loaded the bases, and pinch-hitter Joey Bart had an RBI single to make it 6-4. One out later, Kiner-Falefa hit a single to left to bring home two more runs. A group of fans was ejected during the 10th inning after a verbal confrontation with Pham. Pirates ace Paul Skenes allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, walking five and striking out nine. Gonzales led off the second with a solo homer off Tigers opener Tyler Holton and Triolo's two-run homer made it 3-0. Andrew McCutchen pushed the Pirates' lead to 4-0 with a solo homer off Keider Montero in the third. Gleyber Torres had a two-run double for the Tigers in the fifth, and Colt Keith had a two-run homer off Isaac Mattson in the seventh to tie the score. Pittsburgh appeared to get an inning-ending double play in the fifth inning when Trey Sweeney was called for interference against Gonzales on a grounder by Keith. The umpires originally signaled that Sweeney and Keith were both out, but changed the ruling to Sweeney being out, Keith being placed on first and Jake Rogers being returned to second. Torres followed with his two-run double. The game started 30 minutes late, thanks to a 40-minute rain delay in the first game of the doubleheader. Light rain began to fall in the ninth inning of the second game and got heavier in the bottom of the inning, forcing a 75-minute delay with one out. Pirates RHP Mike Burrows (1-1, 4.24 ERA) is scheduled to start against Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (6-2, 2.19) in the opener of a three-game series at home. Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (5-7, 4.03) will face Rays RHP Shane Baz (6-3, 4.54) in the opener of a three-game series at Tampa, Fla. ___ AP MLB:
CBS News
8 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Pirates beat Tigers 8-4 to earn doubleheader split
Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a two-run single in a four-run 10th inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 for a split of a doubleheader Thursday. The Tigers won the first game 9-2 behind four RBIs from Riley Greene. Pinch-hitter Ke'Bryan Hayes led off the 10th with a single to right, scoring pinch-runner Tommy Pham from second. The Tigers challenged the call, and A.J. Hinch was ejected for arguing after the call was upheld. Nick Gonzales singled, and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third. An intentional walk to Jared Triolo loaded the bases, and pinch-hitter Joey Bart had an RBI single to make it 6-4. One out later, Kiner-Falefa hit a single to left to bring home two more runs. A group of fans was ejected during the 10th inning after a verbal confrontation with Pham. Pirates ace Paul Skenes allowed two runs and three hits in six innings, walking five and striking out nine. Gonzales led off the second with a solo homer off Tigers opener Tyler Holton and Triolo's two-run homer made it 3-0. Andrew McCutchen pushed the Pirates' lead to 4-0 with a solo homer off Keider Montero in the third. Gleyber Torres had a two-run double for the Tigers in the fifth, and Colt Keith had a two-run homer off Isaac Mattson in the seventh to tie the score. Pittsburgh appeared to get an inning-ending double play in the fifth inning when Trey Sweeney was called for interference against Gonzales on a grounder by Keith. The umpires originally signaled that Sweeney and Keith were both out, but changed the ruling to Sweeney being out, Keith being placed on first and Jake Rogers being returned to second. Torres followed with his two-run double. The game started 30 minutes late, thanks to a 40-minute rain delay in the first game of the doubleheader. Light rain began to fall in the ninth inning of the second game and got heavier in the bottom of the inning, forcing a 75-minute delay with one out. Pirates RHP Mike Burrows (1-1, 4.24 ERA) is scheduled to start against Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (6-2, 2.19) in the opener of a three-game series at home. Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (5-7, 4.03) will face Rays RHP Shane Baz (6-3, 4.54) in the opener of a three-game series at Tampa, Fla. ___ AP MLB:
