The Detroit Tigers defeated the Miami Marlins 8-2 on Sunday at Comerica Park, completing a three-game series sweep. Tarik Skubal carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, while rookie Kevin McGonigle hit his first major league home run. Sandy Alcantara struggled, allowing seven runs including three homers.
Tarik Skubal dominated the Marlins lineup early, holding Miami hitless through five innings and retiring the minimum 14 batters before issuing a walk and a hit-by-pitch. The no-hitter bid ended in the sixth when Austin Slater, a former Tigers spring training teammate, dropped a blooper into shallow center for the team's first hit. Skubal pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run with seven strikeouts to secure the win and help the Tigers rebound from a poor series in Minnesota. “There can't be a louder thing to take away from this series, how we responded,” Skubal said. His teammates backed him fiercely, with rookie shortstop Kevin McGonigle emphasizing the defensive focus and Spencer Torkelson sprinting 112 feet for a foul ball attempt. Dillon Dingler's three-run homer in the first inning off Alcantara provided early support, followed by McGonigle's 408-foot solo shot in the fifth and Kerry Carpenter's two-run homer in the sixth. McGonigle, who stayed disciplined against Alcantara's offspeed pitches, celebrated his milestone milestone by trading signed memorabilia for the home run ball from a fan. “It meant everything, especially doing it in front of the city,” McGonigle said. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch praised the lineup for not chasing pitches and capitalizing on mistakes. Alcantara, entering with a 0.74 ERA and no home runs allowed, surrendered seven runs on 10 hits in six innings, more than double his season total prior. The Marlins managed just three runs over the weekend sweep, going hitless in scoring position chances Sunday. Miami manager Clayton McCullough urged focus on the upcoming Braves series.
