Skubal strikes out 12 in possible home finale as Tigers beat Royals 2-1

Associated Press

Jul 25, 2026

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal throws against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Fans hold up K signs for Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal strikeouts against the Kansas City Royals during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Brenan Hanifee throws against the Kansas City Royals during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Gleyber Torres, left, runs around Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13)

Detroit Tigers Justin Verlander, left, sits with Tarik Skubal, right, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Friday, July 24, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

DETROIT (AP) — Tarik Skubal had a season-high 12 strikeouts and allowed one run in 7 1/3 innings in what could have been his last home start for Detroit, helping the Tigers to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

The subject of trade rumors as he approaches free agency, the two-time defending AL Cy Young winner pitched out of a seventh-inning jam before walking off the mound to a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd of 40,638.

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Skubal returned for the eighth inning with 89 pitches, but was replaced by Brenan Hanifee after retiring Carter Jensen. He left to another ovation, having given up four hits and two walks in his 61st win for the Tigers.

Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his 12th save as the Tigers (50-54) improved to 28-16 since June 1. They are four wins away from reaching .500 for the first time since May 4.

Detroit scored twice in the first off Royals opener Beck Way (1-1), but Noah Cameron followed with seven shutout innings.

Way struggled in the first, allowing a pair of singles before hitting Dillon Dingler to load the bases. Riley Greene hit a long fly to left, but Isaac Collins reached above the fence to steal a grand slam. Colt Keith scored on the play, and Hao-Yu Lee made it 2-0 with an RBI single.

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The Royals got two runners to start the third, and Tyler Tolbert bunted them to second and third. Skubal, though, struck out Carter Jensen and Lane Thomas to end the inning.

Skubal almost repeated the feat in the fourth, striking out Vinnie Pasquantino with one out and a runner on third, but Nick Loftin made it 2-1 with an RBI double to left.

A two-out double by Michael Massey gave the Royals on second and third with two out in the seventh, but Tolbert flew out to end the inning.

Salvador Perez, who needs one homer to break George Brett's franchise record of 317, couldn't make it happen on the 43rd anniversary of Brett's Pine Tar Game homer against the New York Yankees.

Tigers RHP Casey Mize (4-6. 2.79) was set to start opposite RHP Michael Wacha (5-7. 3.66) on Saturday.

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