Tigers ambush Athletics to make up for Skubal’s slow start

Dillon Dingler hit a go-ahead, three-run homer during a five-run third and Tarik Skubal overcame a slow start to win his ninth straight decision as the host Detroit Tigers rolled past the Athletics 11-4 on Tuesday.
Skubal gave up two-run homers to Brent Rooker and Denzel Clarke in the first two innings. Skubal (9-2) lasted six innings, scattering six hits and striking out eight.
Kerry Carpenter had a two-run homer, Wenceel Perez supplied a two-run double and Riley Greene contributed four hits, scored twice and drove in two runs.
A’s starter Luis Severino (2-8) gave up seven runs on seven hits in five innings.
Skubal issued just his 13th walk this season to leadoff batter Jacob Wilson. Rooker then ambushed a Skubal fastball, blasting it over the left field wall.
The Tigers got those runs back in the bottom of the inning. Colt Keith led off with a single and, one out later, Carpenter smashed Severino’s fastball over the right-center field wall.
The Athletics made it 4-2 in the second. Tyler Soderstrom had a two-out single before Clarke, the No. 9 hitter in the order, blasted a Skubal offering over the center field fence for his second career homer.
Detroit’s big third inning began with a single by Gleyber Torres. Greene lined a double to center to put runners in scoring position before Perez ripped a double to right to score them both.
Severino hit Zach McKinstry with a pitch, then got the second out of the inning before Dingler reached down and lofted a sweeper over the left field wall for a 7-4 lead.
Chase Lee replaced Skubal in the seventh and received two big defensive plays from right fielder Perez. Soderblom was thrown out at second trying to stretch a single into a double. After Clarke hit a single, Perez did the same thing against Wilson. Clarke was stranded at third when Rooker flied out.
The Tigers added two runs in the bottom of the inning. Greene sparked it with a two-out single, and Perez and McKinstry followed with singles. Greene scored on the latter hit and Perez also came in on a throwing error.
Greene capped the scoring with a two-run single in the eighth.