Chicago Cubs pitcher Ben Brown throws against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning during a baseball game, Friday, June 6, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) AP

Friday's game was set up to be a nice showcase for Detroit ace Tarik Skubal, a contender to win his second straight AL Cy Young Award.

And it was, but Ben Brown stood his ground really well for the Cubs. Skubal's four-seam averaged 97.5 mph, Brown was at 96.8. Skubal struck out 6, Brown whiffed 7.

Brown threw a 98.8 mph fastball in the second inning, the highest velocity of his big-league career.

“Ben can go toe-to-toe stuff-wise with anybody,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Saturday. “I think he showed that last night. That was Ben's best fastball of the year.”

“I kept looking at first-pitch strikes. I don't know

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