The Detroit Tigers fell 5-2 to the Cleveland Guardians in a game that prompted the continuation of Andrew Jay Hinch’s team’s collapse. The defeat came largely after the crazy inning by Tarik Skubal, the current Cy Young winner, who had one of the worst nights of his entire 2025 season in which he made several severe mistakes.
The Guardians thrived on Detroit’s collapse. They swung in time, stayed patient at the plate and turned mistakes into runs. They kept their cool as the Tigers cracked, and in doing so, Cleveland showed why they continue to play as a steady force in the American League Central Division.
Tarik Skubal made a mistake, pitched erratically and resisted against Guardians
In MLB, a Cy Young winner had never been seen to commit all three errors in one inning. Skubal made an error, threw a wild pitch and balked, all in the same frame. The bizarre sequence defined another frustrating night for the Tigers and exposed the deeper issues fueling their free fall.
The Tigers took the urgency into the night, hoping to halt their skid, but the collapse only deepened. Tarik Skubal had anchored them all season, but even he could not stop the crumble. Every mistake now feels magnified as the Tigers let their season teeter on the brink of total collapse.
Cade Smith closed victory for Cleveland
Skubal’s start ended before the seventh inning began when he was replaced by Tommy Kahnle. The decision seemed like a good one after striking out Jhonkensy Noel and Brayan Rocchio. However, he walked Austin Hedges and was relieved by Kyle Finnegan
Cade Smith took it upon himself to close out the game for the Guardians and secure the victory. The closer struck out both Riley Greene and Dillon Dingler to open the ninth inning. The final out was achieved when Zack McKinstry hit a line drive straight into the glove of Jose Ramirez at third base.
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