Tarik Skubal, even though it was born in California and raised in Arizona, believes that Seattle is a special place.
Detroit Tiger’s left-hander and reigning American League Cy Young Award winners will look to continue his mastery of host mariners as he takes the Haugen in the final in a three-game series Wednesday afternoon.
Skubal played collegiate at Seattle University, the only NCAA Division I school that offers him a scholarship. He took part in the Redhawks’ 8-7 victory against the University of British Columbia on Tuesday afternoon before going to the Ball Park in Seattle.
Once in the visiting clubhouse, he browsed through old pictures through his phone to find one that was taken when Seattle University played a game at T-Mobile Park.
“I have a picture in this cabinet here,” Skubal said. “It was me who took a selfie, just being a child … and now that it’s your life it’s pretty cool. I don’t think the child sitting in this cabinet and eating finger food and must be a big-leaguer for a day-there is no chance that he would have thought he would sit here and do this right now.”
The tigers gave Skubal permission to spend some time on Tuesday to be honored by his Alma Mater at Tarik Skubal Night. He mixed himself with Seattle University player, coach and students.
“I’ll try to say hello to as many (people) as I can,” Skubal said. “It’s hard to predict days that you beat in terms of trying to plan it … but hopefully I can convince all these people to come back the next day.”
The tigers will look to complete a three-game swipe by mariners after posting 9-6 and 4-1 wins for the past two nights.
Detroit has received several runs in the first round of both games and has not dragged. Riley Greene hammered in both games, and Casey Mize and three reliefs combined on a hitter Tuesday.
Mize allowed a lead single to Victor Robles at the bottom of the first and then a one-out walk before retiring 14 consecutive battles.
“He had a hard time getting into rhythm, and then he fell into an incredible rhythm,” Tiger’s manager Aj Hinch said of Mize. “He had the split, both variants in the slider and were effective … We felt we had a bigger lead because of how Casey threw.”
Mariners have received two or fewer runs in four of six matches this season.
“A difficult (Tuesday),” said manager Dan Wilson. “We couldn’t get anything to go offensively.”
Skubal (0-1, 7.20 era) gave up a couple of Homers Thursday when he lost his opening day start in Los Angeles against the defending World Series champion Dodgers. He will oppose sailors right hand luis Castillo (0-1, 3.60).
Skubal is 3-0 with a 2.50 era in three career starts against Seattle; Castillo is 0-4 with a 4.03 era in five starts versus the tigers.
Whatever happens, Skubal already knows what his meal after the game will be. The tigers have arranged that the clubhouse is spread by Tacos Chukis, a popular Taqueria known for its street tacos and one of Skubal’s favorite places in the city.
“I want to eat it after I have gone up and not before,” Skubal told reporters with a laugh.
-Field level media
