Last year's American League Cy Young Award winner, Detroit Tigers left-handed ace Tarik Skubal, showcased his impressive striking out ability.

Skubal took the mound as the starting pitcher in the home game against the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park in Detroit, United States, on the 10th (Korea time), achieving a victory with 2 hits allowed, no walks, 12 strikeouts, and 1 earned run over 7 innings. He recorded his 4th win of the season (2 losses) with an earned run average of 2.08.

Skubal recorded 12 strikeouts on the day, achieving 32 swings and misses. This broke the previous record for the most swings and misses in a game by a Tigers pitcher since pitch tracking began in 2008, previously held by Anibal Sanchez with 28. Sanchez set the record on April 27, 2013, against the Atlanta Braves, collecting 17 strikeouts.

It is the first time a Major League pitcher has recorded this many swings and misses in a game since Lance Lynn of the White Sox registered 16 strikeouts and 33 swings and misses against Seattle on June 19, 2023.

After recording losses in his first two games of the season, Skubal showed overwhelming pitching in his last six starts, allowing 4 earned runs over 37 innings (4 wins, ERA 0.98), with 1 walk and 50 strikeouts. He is demonstrating the power of last year's Cy Young Award winner.

Detroit returned late at night from Denver after playing a doubleheader against Colorado the previous day.

Skubal started by striking out lead-off batter Sam Haggerty with a 99.7 mph (about 160.5 km/h) fastball for the swinging strikeout. He threw 10 pitches over 99 mph on the day.

Skubal registered 2 strikeouts in the 1st inning for a quick three up, three down. In the 2nd inning, he struck out Marcus Semien with a 98.7 mph (about 158.8 km/h) fastball for a swinging strikeout, and in the 3rd inning, he struck out Ezekiel Duran with a 99.6 mph (about 160.3 km/h) fastball for a looking strikeout.

In the 4th inning, he struck out Wyatt Langford with a 99.9 mph (160.8 km/h) fastball for a swinging strikeout, and Jonah Heim with an 85 mph (136.8 km/h) knuckle curve for another swinging strikeout.

Skubal continued his perfect game by striking out Adolis Garcia with a 99.1 mph (159.5 km/h) fastball in the 5th inning, allowing no hits to the first 15 batters. He had accumulated 8 strikeouts by the end of the 5th.

Detroit scored the first run in the bottom of the 2nd with 2 outs and a runner on 1st base when Dillon Dingler hit a double to left-center. In the bottom of the 4th, with 2 outs and a runner on 1st, Riley Greene stole second base, and Colt Keith drove in a run with a single, making it 2-0.

In the 6th, with a 2-0 lead, Skubal gave up a single to Josh Smith, breaking his perfect game. He then hit Duran with a pitch to put runners on 1st and 2nd with no outs. He struck out Blaine Crim but allowed a run with a single to right field by Haggerty.

In the continued 1 out, 1st and 2nd base crisis, he managed to hold onto the 1-run lead with a strikeout and an infield groundout. In the 7th, he struck out Garcia and Semien consecutively, and Josh Young ended the inning with a groundout to the second baseman.

Detroit secured the 2-1 victory in the 8th with Tommy Henry pitching a scoreless inning, and in the 9th, Will Vest also pitched a scoreless inning, recording his 4th save of the season.

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