The Detroit Tigers' lead in the American League Central has officially evaporated. The Cleveland Guardians took game one of a critical end-of-season series, 5-2, and now Cleveland controls its own destiny in the final five games on its schedule.
In that 5-2 loss, the Guardians came back from down 2-0 in the sixth, with southpaw Tarik Skubal on the mound. In an eventful inning, where the Guardians did not hit a ball out of the infield, and David Fry was struck in the face with a 99 mph fastball by Skubal, Cleveland scored three runs and would not give the lead back. There was also a Skubal error where he tried to flip a ball under his legs.
Skubal responds to his crucial error
The error was a bit controversial because it looked like Skubal could have regrouped and made an easy out at first, but instead, he decided to snap the ball under his legs like a football center, and it sailed over first baseman Spencer Torkelson's head.
"That play is impossible," Skubal said.
Tigers' manager also backed that claim up by saying he was in a tough position to field the ball, and explained that it was an uncharacteristic mistake by the CY Young favorite, Tarik Skubal.
The Guardians have won nine of their last 10 games, and Detroit has lost nine of its last 10 games, painting a clear picture of why the Guardians have been able to produce one of the most historic comebacks in MLB history.
Skubal also added after that "it didn't end up mattering" and "who cares".
Detroit needs to pick up some wins in the final five games of the season if it wants to play in October this season.
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