Skubal settles in, bats take over to make Tigers first to 50 wins

DETROIT — The look on Tarik Skubal’s face as Denzel Clarke’s second-inning drive cleared Parker Meadows’ outstretched glove and the center-field fence was one of exasperation. Clarke connected with his 94 mph offering and sent it 422 feet for the Athletics’ second two-run homer off Skubal in as many innings.

Four innings later, as Skubal sent a 91 mph slider past Luis Urías on his 97th and final pitch for his eighth strikeout, he kicked out his leg and let out a yell, seemingly equal parts adrenaline and exhaustion. The Tigers’ 11-4 victory on a hot Tuesday night at Comerica Park wasn’t his best outing, but it was a win against an A’s team that haunted him last season and seemed poised to do the same.