Skubal strikes out 13, wins 10th straight decision as Tigers beat Twins 3-0

DETROIT (AP) — Tarik Skubal struck out 13 hitters in seven innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 3-0 on Sunday night.

Skubal (10-2) only allowed one hit — a clean single to right by Ty France in the fifth inning — as he improved to 10-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last 15 starts. The last double-digit streak in one season by a Detroit lefty was Earl Whitehill’s 11-start stretch in 1930.

The strikeouts matched Skubal’s career high, last done on May 25 in his 94-pitch shutout against the Guardians.

Chris Paddack (3-7) gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings for the Twins.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead on Kerry Carpenter’s solo homer in the first inning, and he added a RBI triple in the fifth before leaving the game with an apparent leg injury. Riley Greene hit a solo homer in the fourth.

Detroit Tigers’ Riley Greene, center, is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Will Vest pitched the ninth to pick up his 13th save.

Key moment

Skubal struck out eight of the first nine hitters, including seven in a row, before Byron Buxton lifted a fly ball to Riley Greene on the warning track in left. Buxton is 2 for 15 (.133) in his career against Skubal, though both hits have been homers.

Key stat

Skubal is 5-0 in June, making him the third Tigers pitcher to be 4-0 or better in the month in the last 25 years. The other two, Justin Verlander in 2011 and Max Scherzer in 2013, each won the American League Cy Young Award.

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Chris Paddack throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Up next

Twins LHP Joe Ryan (8-3, 2.86 ERA) starts against Marlins RHP Edward Cabrera (2-2, 3.78) in the series opener in Miami on Tuesday. Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty (5-9, 4.80) faces Nationals RHP Trevor Williams (3-9, 5.65) in Washington on Tuesday.

Detroit Tigers’ Javier Báez bats during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)
Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton bats during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, June 29, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

___

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.