Skubal strikes out 13, wins 10th straight decision as Tigers beat Twins 3-0

DETROIT, MI — Tarik Skubal was dominant on Sunday night, striking out 13 over seven brilliant innings to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 3-0 win over the Minnesota Twins.

Skubal (10-2) gave up just one hit — a fifth-inning single to Ty France — and improved to 10-0 with a 1.74 ERA over his last 15 starts. His 13 strikeouts matched a career high, previously set on May 25 during a shutout of the Guardians. He’s the first Detroit left-hander with a double-digit win streak in a single season since Earl Whitehill’s 11-game run in 1930.

Chris Paddack (3-7) allowed three runs over 4 2/3 innings for Minnesota.

Kerry Carpenter gave Detroit an early lead with a solo homer in the first and added an RBI triple in the fifth before leaving with a leg injury. Riley Greene also went deep with a solo shot in the fourth.

Will Vest closed it out with a scoreless ninth to earn his 13th save.

Skubal was electric early, striking out eight of the first nine batters — including seven in a row — before Byron Buxton flew out to the warning track. Buxton is now 2-for-15 (.133) lifetime against Skubal, though both hits have been homers.

Skubal finished June at 5-0, joining Justin Verlander (2011) and Max Scherzer (2013) as the only Tigers pitchers in the last 25 years to go undefeated with at least four wins in the month. Both Verlander and Scherzer went on to win AL Cy Young honors.

Up next:
The Twins visit Miami on Tuesday, with Joe Ryan (8-3, 2.86 ERA) facing Edward Cabrera (2-2, 3.78). The Tigers head to Washington, where Jack Flaherty (5-9, 4.80) will take the mound against Trevor Williams (3-9, 5.65).