Starting pitcher Tarik Skubal tossed a career-high 13 strikeouts across seven stellar innings to help the visiting Detroit Tigers to a 5-1 win and a series sweep against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Skubal (10-3) allowed one run on three hits with no walks. Gio Urshela went 3-for-4 and Zach McKinstry was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
Reds starter Graham Ashcraft (5-5) allowed one run on six hits, with three walks and two strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. The Tigers padded their one-run lead in the eighth off reliever Alexis Diaz. Urshela reached on a fielding error with two outs, and McKinstry followed with a home run to right-center field for a 4-1 advantage.
Jake Rogers singled, stole second, and scored to make it 5-1 on Parker Meadows' single. Cincinnati had its longest inning of the afternoon in the seventh, sending five batters to the plate. Jeimer Candelario led with a double to right field and Spencer Steer then reached on a fielding error by McKinstry.
The pair each moved up on a wild pitch by Skubal, and Candelario cut the deficit to 2-1 on Noelvi Marte's groundout. The Tigers had made it 2-0 in the top of the seventh. Rogers drew a walk to open the inning and advanced to third on a double from Matt Vierling.
Colt Keith's single drove in Rogers. Skubal was firing on all cylinders and held the Reds to one hit over five innings, with Austin Wynns knocking a leadoff double in the third. But two strikeouts and a groundout left the catcher stranded.
Cincinnati wouldn't get its ne.
