PHILADELPHIA — Tarik Skubal recorded his first win since June as the Detroit Tigers overcame the Philadelphia Phillies and their ace Zack Wheeler with a 7-5 triumph on Saturday. Skubal’s dominant pitching helped secure the win in a tightly contested game, highlighting the Tigers’ resilience against one of their toughest opponents.

Pitching Performance and Key Offensive Contributions

Skubal (11-3) delivered a strong outing, allowing just three runs on five hits across seven innings while striking out 10 batters. Impressively, he fanned six of the first seven hitters, maintaining control until the seventh inning. On offense, Javier Baez stood out, contributing a home run, a double, and driving in four runs to back Skubal’s pitching effort.

The Tigers jumped out to a 5-0 lead before the Phillies began their comeback. Bryce Harper started a rally with a single, followed by a double from J.T. Realmuto that brought Harper home. Nick Castellanos then hit a two-run homer to center, reducing Detroit’s advantage to two runs and energizing the Phillies.

Back-and-Forth Battle in Late Innings

Baez extended Detroit’s lead with a two-run double in the eighth inning, but Harper responded for Philadelphia with a clutch two-run home run off reliever Will Vest, marking his 18th homer of the season. Despite Philadelphia’s surge, the Tigers’ bullpen, led by Kyle Finnegan, closed out the game with a four-out save, preserving Detroit’s hard-fought win.

Wheeler’s Struggles and Phillies’ Offensive Highlights

Zack Wheeler (9-5) suffered the loss after giving up three solo home runs, two in the third inning by Colt Keith and Kerry Carpenter, and another two-run homer to Baez in the seventh. This marked a season-high for Wheeler in home runs allowed, as he had only given up more than one home run once before this year, back in a July game against San Diego.

For Detroit, Colt Keith and Wenceel Perez each recorded three hits, contributing significantly to the Tigers’ offensive output. A pivotal moment occurred in the sixth inning when Weston Wilson doubled off the top of the fence, but a remarkable sliding catch by Tigers’ left fielder Riley Greene ended the Phillies’ threat, preserving Detroit’s lead.

Looking Ahead to Series Finale

The series will conclude Sunday with Detroit sending veteran right-hander Charlie Morton (7-8, 5.42 ERA) to the mound against the Phillies’ lefty Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 2.55 ERA). Both teams will look to build momentum as the season progresses, with Detroit maintaining its lead in the AL Central and Philadelphia aiming to stay competitive in the playoff chase.