Published on September 28, 2023
In a mid-week clash between the Detroit Tigers and the visiting Kansas City Royals, Mother Nature intervened in the fourth inning, leading to the suspension of the game. As of the suspension, the Tigers held a commanding 4-0 lead. The game is scheduled to resume at 1:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, with the regularly scheduled Thursday game slated to begin approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended match.
In a poignant moment, Miguel Cabrera, who has announced his retirement at the end of the season, made his mark by slamming his fourth home run of the current season, which also marked the 511th of his illustrious career. This memorable moment occurred in the second inning.
Tyler Nevin, coming in as a pinch hitter in the fourth inning, further bolstered the Tigers’ lead by launching a three-run homer.
Rain had been a constant companion throughout the contest, but it intensified after the fourth inning, ultimately compelling the umpires to call for a delay. After a delay exceeding an hour, the decision was made to suspend the game.
On the pitching front, Tigers’ starter Tarik Skubal demonstrated his prowess, cruising through four innings. During his impressive stint, he held the Royals to just two hits while amassing eight strikeouts and not issuing a single walk. Skubal had previously secured victories in all four of his September starts, making the rain delay a potential obstacle to another triumph.
In contrast, Skubal’s record against the Royals had been less favorable in previous appearances. Over the course of ten matchups, including eight starts, he had managed just one win while carrying a 5.51 ERA.
The Royals, in an unconventional move, opted for Jonathan Bowlan as their opener. Bowlan, a 26-year-old right-hander making his major league debut, conceded one run, courtesy of Cabrera’s homer, and yielded three hits in his two-inning stint. He recorded two strikeouts and didn’t issue a single walk.
Cabrera’s second-inning home run, a swift reaction to the very first pitch he faced, sailed over the right-center-field wall, providing Detroit with an early 1-0 lead.
Skubal’s performance on the mound was a study in dominance, as he systematically struck out batters. He fanned two in the first inning, two more in the second, and culminated his third inning by striking out the side.
In the fourth inning, with Angel Zerpa on the mound for the Royals, the Tigers extended their lead to 4-0. Cabrera ignited the rally with a one-out single, followed by Andy Ibanez’s double down the right-field line. The stage was then set for Tyler Nevin, who delivered his second homer of the season over the right-field wall.
As of now, the Detroit Tigers (74-83) maintain a resounding 8-3 advantage in the season series against the Kansas City Royals (54-103). The Tigers had previously claimed victory in the series opener on Monday with a final score of 6-3.
The baseball world will eagerly await the resumption of the suspended game on Thursday, which could potentially see Tarik Skubal secure another win and further enhance his impressive September record.
