Postgame Report: DET (-200) over CHC

The Tigers win in nine 3-1 on 7.2IP from starter Tarik Skubal.  Skubal put it a great start by the numbers albeit just a good start for the Ace when compared to some of the other games he has thrown this season.  He didn't overpower the Cubs offense, with only six strikeouts, and he allowed eight hits on the night, but with some help from his defense and another seven plus innings without issuing a walk, Skubal limited the Cubs to one earned run and earned his sixth victory of the season.

Rookie Ben Brown recorded his second quality start in a row:  7IP 7H 2ER 7K 1BB -- he kept the Cubs in the game and pitched with the game's best through seven innings.  

With the game tied at one a piece, Brown gave up a go ahead homer to Spencer Torkelson.  He had Torkelson down 0-2 and missed with three knucklecurves in a row.  With the count full, Torkelson was sitting fastball and he got one in the zone that he deposited over the center field wall.  2-1 Tigers.  

The Cubs were still in this one.  Justin Turner collected a single to lead off the eighth.  A Matt Shaw force out put the Cubs rookie third baseman on first base and with one out, Cubs manager Craig Counsell gave Shaw the green light.  Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler nailed him for the second out in the inning.  It was a big play.  With two down, Chicago would get a pair of singles from Ian Happ and Kyle Tucker but no runs would cross the plate.  Will Vest replaced Skubal for the righty righty matchup on Seiya Suzuki and got the Japanese import to fly out to end the inning.  

The Tigers would add a run in the bottom of the eighth on a pinch-hit home run from rookie Jahmai Jones and Vest closed out the ninth for his 10th save of the season.  

It was an exciting game.  The best of the AL versus the best of the NL.  The game's best starter against an up and coming knuckleballer.  Credit the Tigers defense with this win.  Tiger's LF Riley Greene put a throw on Cub's wheelman Pete Crow Armstrong in the fifth, nailing him at the plate, a big play that saved a run early.   It was the play of the game.  

Four wins in a row for the Pickstreak, 6.20 units in play.  Let's see how we play this one.