Dodgers' Skubal hear cheers, some boos in stellar Detroit return - ESPN

DETROIT — Tarik Skubal was welcomed with cheers and a smattering of boos in his return to Detroit, where he pitched Friday for the Los Angeles Dodgers against his former team for the first time since the middling franchise traded him to the two-time defending World Series champions.

When the visitors lineup and Skubal were shown on the videoboard and his name was announced before the first pitch, most of the crowd at Comerica Park clapped for the two-time Cy Young Award winner while some jeered.

The Tigers showed a video montage from his seven-season career with the team and posted a message at the end: «Thank you, Tarik.»

Skubal turned his head to the right a few times to watch the video as he walked from the bullpen beyond the left-field wall and toward the Dodgers' dugout with a white towel draped around his neck.

He extended his right arm, holding his glove, toward his former teammates and used his left hand to pat his chest.

Skubal did not appear to react to, or acknowledge, the fans before or during the game and didn't get a chance to do so as he exited the game because a pitching change was made after the sixth inning in a 1-all game. He gave up one run on four hits and struck out seven over six innings with 83 pitches, the fewest since he threw 74 in the season-opening game in March.

The Dodgers went on to win 2-1.

In a crowd that had mixed emotions about Skubal's return, a couple of young fans had outfits sporting white Tigers jerseys with 29 and Skubal on the back — and a blue Dodgers hat.

When the left-hander jogged to the mound to pitch for the first time as a visitor in the Motor City, booing fans were heard first followed by more cheers from fans in the stands.

His first pitch was delayed because he