Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal reached his 1,000th career strikeout on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles at Comerica Park. The milestone came in a game the Tigers led 7-0 before losing 10-9 in 12 innings.
Skubal struck out Orioles leadoff hitter Taylor Ward with a changeup for the milestone in the first inning. He finished with six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk.
The Tigers held a 7-0 lead into the seventh before the Orioles scored five runs that inning. Baltimore tied the game in the eighth on Coby Mayo’s two-run triple and took a 10-9 lead in the 12th on Colton Cowser’s RBI single.
Skubal received a standing ovation from the crowd after exiting the mound. He said afterward that he wanted to stay in the moment amid trade deadline speculation.
The Orioles improved to 53-56 and took two of three in the series. The Tigers fell to 51-58 and trail in the wild-card race with the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaching.
