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Tarik Skubal retires Cal Raleigh with 100.9 MPH scorcher
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- Tarik Skubal retires Cal Raleigh with 100.9 MPH scorcher
The post Tarik Skubal retires Cal Raleigh with 100.9 MPH scorcher appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Detroit Tigers kept their season alive with a clutch 9-3 win over the Seattle Mariners in Game 4 of the ALDS. The victory forced a do-or-die Game 5 as the Division Series shifted back to Seattle. And while the Mariners have home field advantage for the finale, the Tigers have Tarik Skubal .
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The reigning AL Cy Young winner was once again lights-out for Detroit, allowing one run on two hits and no walks with 13 strikeouts in six innings. Skubal set a postseason record with seven consecutive strikeouts against the Mariners. And he ended his night in a marquee battle with Cal Raleigh .
Protecting a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning and sitting at 96 pitches, Skubal dug deep when facing the MLB home run king. The Tigers ' ace blew a 100.9 mph fastball past a swinging Raleigh, winning the good-on-good matchup with a three-pitch strikeout.
Tarik Skubal dominates in Tigers' must-win game
Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Skubal has been excellent for a Tigers team that limped into the playoffs with a Wild Card berth. He got a win in the ALWCS against the Cleveland Guardians . And Skubal picked up a no decision with a quality start in Game 2 of the ALDS.
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Josh Naylor's base running got the Mariners on the board in Game 5. After hitting a two-out double in the second inning, Naylor stole third and scored on Mitch Garver 's sac fly.
Seattle starter George Kirby worked into the sixth inning without allowing a run. But Javy Baez led off the sixth with a double. And Kerry Carpenter's 411-foot homer gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Kyle Finnegan replaced Skubal in the seventh inning but the Mariners quickly chased him from the game. Tyler Holton took over for the Tigers and promptly gave up a game-tying single to pinch-hitter Leo Rivas .
After a 60-homer regular season Raleigh has continued to hit in the playoffs. His MVP-caliber campaign helped the Mariners secure the No. 2 seed, earning a first-round bye. Against the Tigers, Raleigh is slashing .421/.476/.632 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.
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The closely matched teams remain knotted at 2-2 in the eighth inning of the winner-take-all Game 5. Following Skubal's dominant showing, the Tigers moved on to a third reliever, tabbing Will Vest to start the eighth.
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Related: Tigers-Mariners Game 5 makes history not seen since 1999
