Tarik Skubal wins his 18th game, Tigers continue playoff push

DETROIT – Tarik Skubal allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings as the Detroit Tigers took another step toward an unlikely postseason appearance with a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.

Skubal (18-4), a top candidate for the American League Cy Young Award, struck out seven batters and walked just one on a day when the weather didn't cooperate. He is 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA in his last nine starts.

“I have the best seat in the house to watch the best pitcher in the league,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “He was unbelievable on a difficult day. We moved the game from an evening game to an afternoon game and then had to sit out an hour's delay, but he dominated.”

Skubal will get a chance for his 19th win on Sunday when the Tigers need him to beat the Chicago White Sox on the final day of the regular season and advance to the postseason.

The Tigers (83-74) began the day tied with Kansas City for second and third wildcard spots – the Royals have the tiebreaker – and were one game ahead of the Minnesota Twins.

Despite being sellers at the MLB transfer deadline, the Tigers are an MLB-best 28-11 since August 11.

Reliever Beau Brieske retired the first five batters he faced before Brandon Lowe hit a two-out home run in the ninth inning to put the Rays within 2-1, but he struck out Josh Lowe for his third career save and first of the season.

Tampa Bay (78-79) fell five games behind the Tigers.

“We thought our best chance was to win, but we didn't get that done today,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We needed help before this game, and we need even more now.”

Wenceel Pérez reached base three times for Detroit, walked two times and then hit a two-run double in the fifth inning.

“We're playing great together,” said Pérez, who returned on Sept. 13 after missing a month with an oblique strain. “This is like a playoff game for us and we're up for the challenge.”

Tampa Bay starter Ryan Pepiot (8-7) allowed two runs, three hits and four walks in six innings.

The Tigers had the first good chance of the game when they sent runners to the corners with one out in the fourth inning, but Pepiot got Colt Keith to pop out before striking out Spencer Torkelson.

Detroit loaded the bases with one out in the fifth inning thanks to two walks and a single. Pérez fell behind 2-0 but used his full power before hitting a ground-rule double on the ninth pitch of the at-bat.

“That was a tough inning — there were some really close pitches,” Cash said. “And then Pérez makes a couple of fouls and hits one fair by about two inches.”

First pitch was moved up from 6:40 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. because of rain forecast, then the start of play was delayed 49 minutes because of rain showers. The game lasted 1 hour and 59 minutes and the crowd was 22,770 – much less than expected.

“We ambushed the city with the time change, but the people that were here were loud,” Hinch said. “I want to thank the fans for changing their plans and being part of this victory.”

Detroit called up right-hander Jackson Jobe, one of baseball's most promising pitchers, as a bullpen pitcher in the final week of the season, making room for him on the roster by designating right-hander Shelby Miller for assignment.