Tarik Skubal pitched 7 2/3 strong innings, Spencer Torkelson hit the go-ahead homer and the host Detroit Tigers downed the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Friday to open a three-game interleague eries.
In a matchup of AL and NL Central first-place teams, Skubal (6-2) allowed one run, scattered eight hits and struck out six. Will Vest got the last four outs for his 10th save.
Jahmai Jones, just called up from Triple-A Toledo, also homered for Detroit. Gleyber Torres added an RBI single.
Kyle Tucker had two hits and drove in the lone Chicago run. Ben Brown (3-4) gave up two runs and seven hits while striking out seven on seven innings.
Chicago was limited to an infield single through the first four innings. Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the fifth with a single and Dansby Swanson followed with a double. Crow-Armstrong ran several steps past the third base bag, then tried to retreat. He was tagged out and Skubal retired the next two batters on a flyout and a strikeout.
The Tigers broke through with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Javier Baez, Parker Meadows and Torres hit consecutive singles with Baez scoring on Torres’ liner into center field.
Chicago knotted the score in the sixth. Matt Shaw led off with a double and scored on Tucker’s one-out double to right. Tucker was left stranded as Skubal set down the next two batters on a flyout and strikeout.
Torkelson gave the Tigers the lead again in the bottom of the inning with his 15th homer. He pulled a 3-2 Brown fastball over the left-center field wall.
Outstanding defense in the eighth allowed Detroit to hang onto the lead. Justin Turner led off with a single and Shaw bounced into a fielder’s choice. A perfect throw from catcher Dillon Dingler cut down Shaw as he tried to steal second.
Ian Happ then reached on a single and moved to third on a Tucker single. Vest replaced Skubal and right fielder Kerry Carpenter made a leaping grab at the wall to rob Seiya Suzuki of a two-out extra-base hit.
Jones, pinch-hitting for Carpenter in the bottom of the inning, made it 3-1 with his homer to left.
