Tigers defeat Astros in opening game of AL wild-card series, earn first playoff win over decade

Shohei Ohtani went 6-for-6 in a demolition of the Miami Marlins, which included three home runs and the founding of the 50/50 club. Colin Cowherd declares Ohtani the greatest baseball player ever.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal took the mound Tuesday for Game 1 of an American League wild-card series. 

The Tigers hoped Skubal's stellar performance from the regular season would carry over into the MLB postseason. He not only met expectations, he exceeded them. 

Skubal struck out six batters and did not allow an earned run over six innings to help lift the Tigers to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros. 

The win marked the first postseason victory for the Tigers since Game 4 of the AL championship series in 2013. It was the first time Detroit qualified for the playoffs since 2014.

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Tarik Skubal reacts after a strikeout against the Houston Astros in the sixth inning in Game 1 of the wild-card round of the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Minute Maid Park in Houston Oct. 1, 2024. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

The Astros are in the playoffs for a franchise-record eighth straight year. Prior to Tuesday's loss, Houston had won a MLB-record ten consecutive postseason openers. The game also marked the Astros' 98th postseason game since 2017.

Down 3-0 entering the ninth, Houston scored on Yainer Diaz's RBI single and had the bases loaded when Jason Heyward hit a game-ending line out against Beau Brieske.

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Skubal, the AL pitching Triple Crown winner, allowed just four singles and walked one. About the only hard hit by the Astros off him was one that hit Skuba. He was struck on his right