The first batter he faced went down swinging on a 98 mph sinker -- the last on a 103 mph fastball.
In the first complete game of his career, in front of a near-capacity crowd that was chanting his name at Comerica Park, Tarik Skubal twirled a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts and no walks to salvage the finale of the Tigers' four-game series against the Guardians on Sunday afternoon.
He's the first pitcher in Tigers history to throw a complete game with the aforementioned numbers. And it took him just 94 pitches to do it, 72 of which were strikes. Pure dominance, start to finish.
Skubal flirted with perfection when he retired the first 15 batters he faced. The Guardians broke through when Will Wilson doubled to lead off the sixth. Jose Ramirez was the only other hitter to reach base.
Skubal's final pitch of the day, which induced his 26th swing and miss of the afternoon, was the fastest pitch of his career.
The late-game smoke evoked Justin Verlander. The efficiency evoked Greg Maddux. The performance as a whole was quintessentially Skubal.