Skubal has emotional return to Detroit -- but dominates Tigers anyway

DETROIT -- Tarik Skubal has pitched at Comerica Park more than any other ballpark, having called it home for seven years. He took that familiar mound for the 78th time in his career on Friday night, but for the first time, he wore road grays in Detroit, with another city's name across his chest.

Just under a month removed from the blockbuster deal that sent him to L.A. ahead of the Trade Deadline, Skubal returned to Detroit to face his former team. Skubal struck out seven without walking a batter and allowed one run on four hits across six innings in the Dodgers' series-opening 2-1 win over the Tigers that snapped a three-game losing streak.

“I think I did a good job of keeping baseball baseball, and trying to compete and give our team a chance to win," Skubal said. "I think you kind of saw the emotions early. … Obviously, this place is special.”

In the aftermath of the trade, Skubal freely expressed his gratitude for the Tigers' organization and the Detroit fans, who saw him blossom into one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, with two AL Cy Young Awards to show for it. His former home crowd mostly returned the affection on Friday, although the reception grew somewhat mixed as the night went on.

Before the game began, the Tigers' faithful greeted their former ace with a standing ovation while a tribute video played on the scoreboard. Skubal was visibly emotional, wiping his eyes as he walked back to the visitors' dugout following pregame warmups.

"There were definitely tears," he said. "Luckily enough, I was able to make it to the tunnel before more happened."

But when he took the mound, there were audible boos -- and perhaps some calls of "Skooooob" -- raining down at Comerica Park. The shift in tone did not seem to faze Skubal.

“With the last name Skub, you don’t know if they are boos or if they’re cheering for you," he said. "So, I’m going to assume they were cheering for me."

Said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch: "It was a lot. And it was a lot for everybody in the building. But it’s necessary, right, for everybody to take a step forward and move on and have this not be as hot of a topic. Tonight had to happen. We wanted to beat him. We put a couple good swings on him. We put a little pressure on him. But he was good, as he always is."​

After giving up a ringing double to Gleyber Torres to lead off the bottom of the first inning, Skubal retired his next 12 batters. That streak ended when Eduardo Valencia led off the fifth with a double and came around to score on a two-out triple from Max Clark, but that was the only run Skubal allowed.

There wasn't much that wasn't working for Skubal, but his changeup was especially nasty as he sliced and diced his way through a lineup full of hitters who played behind him this time last month. Tigers hitters whiffed on Skubal's changeup six times, and five of his strikeouts came on the offering.

The emotional toll of the day, as well as Skubal clearing the century mark in pitches in each of his previous two starts, led manager Dave Roberts to end his outing at six innings and 83 pitches.​

Skubal has gained momentum in each of his five appearances with L.A., having picked up his first win as a Dodger in an 11-strikeout gem one start before his return to Detroit. Back on his former home mound, he dominated like he did in his best days as a Tiger.

"He left everything he had for this organization, multiple Cy Youngs, he left it all for them. I think that's why he got so many cheers," said Freddie Freeman, who drove in the game-winning run on an eighth-inning single. "I'm sure during the game they weren't too thrilled with all the strikeouts he was racking up, but it's hard to boo a man who gave you everything he had every five days."

Since being traded to the Dodgers, Skubal has gone through several firsts, from his team debut to his first home start at Dodger Stadium. There was no novelty in him pitching at Comerica Park. But it may have brought a sense of closure.

"This one, I’m sure, was marked on his calendar as far as what to expect coming back to his old ballpark," Roberts said. "There was a lot of heavy heart, emotions. So I think this was the last box he had to check."