Skubal dominates, Keith homers in Tigers' triumph over Athletics

Detroit – It doesn’t have to be a big swing that changes a game. The Tigers, when they are playing at their best, prove this time after time.And they did so again Tuesday night in a spirited, 6-2 win over the Athletics in the first of three at Comerica Park.

Sometimes a simple walk can turn the tide. It was a tight, 2-1 game when lefty-swinging Zach McKinstry stepped in with two outs and nobody on against lefty reliever Jacob Lopez in the sixth inning.McKinstry battled his way to a walk, which set up a run of three straight right-handed hitters who broke the game open.

Spencer Torkelson singled. Rookie Ben Malgeri, pinch-hitting for James Outman, dropped a run-scoring double into shallow right field. Athletics’ second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and right fielder Lawrence Butler both converged on the ball and both backed off at the last minute.

Matt Vierling followed with a two-run double and lefty-swinging Kevin McGonigle capped the four-run outburst with an RBI single.McGonigle, the newly-minted All-Star, had another productive day. He led off with an eight-pitch walk against Athletics’ starter J.

T. Ginn and Colt Keith hit the next pitch, a cutter, 427 feet into the right-center stands. His seventh homer.

McGonigle was safe on an error and singled twice.And he made history in the process. He’s reached base safely two or more times in 53 games, which sets an MLB record for most times doing that by a rookie before the All-Star break.

He topped Aaron Judge's mark set in 2017.The Tigers (41-50) have won six of their last seven games.“We have to continue to chip away to get back into this thing,” Manager AJ Hinch said before the game.

“But I feel optimistic because our team is starting to do the things that we expected to do.”Reigning two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal got the win and lowered his ERA to 3.06.

But what to make of his night, other than he packed a lot into five innings.He started the outing by striking out the side in the first inning. He ended it by thr