Tarik Skubal struck out a season-high 12 in 7 1/3 innings as the host Detroit Tigers edged the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Friday night.
Skubal, who is headed to free agency, has been the subject of massive speculation over whether the Tigers will deal him before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner delivered arguably his best outing of the season in what could have been his final home start with Detroit.
Skubal (7-5) gave up one run and four hits with two walks. Kenley Jensen got the last three outs for his 12th save in 16 chances.
Hao-Yu Lee had two hits and an RBI in the Tigers’ third straight victory.
The Royals’ Noah Cameron limited Detroit to two hits, struck out eight and walked three in seven innings.
The Tigers scored two first-inning runs against Kansas City opener Beck Way (1-1). Colt Keith reached on an infield single and moved up on a Gleyber Torres single. Dillon Dingler was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with no out.
Riley Greene hit a long fly ball to left that Isaac Collins snared with a leaping grab as Keith scored on the sacrifice fly. After a short flyout, Lee ripped a single to center to score Torres.
Kansas City had a threat going into the third after Skubal retired the first six batters. Collins led off with a double and Michael Massey drew a walk. After a sacrifice moved up both runners, Skubal struck out Carter Jensen and Lane Thomas.
The Royals got to Skubal in the fourth. Salvador Perez led off with an opposite-field double and advanced to third on a groundout. With two down, Nick Loftin smacked a double to left to bring home Perez.
Lee had a two-out double in the sixth but Zach McKinstry lined out to end the inning.
Skubal got into another jam in the seventh. Loftin walked with one out and Massey doubled to right with two outs, but Loftin had to hold up at third after right fielder Ben Malgeri quickly retrieved the ball. Skubal then retired Tyler Tolbert on a short fly ball.
