DETROIT (AP) — Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal returned from an injury scare and gave up one run over six innings against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday.

Skubal, who had tightness on his left side during his previous start, allowed seven hits, struck out nine and walked two in a 102-pitch outing.

The reigning AL Cy Young Award and pitching Triple Crown winner was replaced by right-hander Troy Melton in the seventh in a 1-all game. Nine pitches later, Jose Ramirez hit a go-ahead, two-run homer to give the Guardians a 3-1 lead.

The AL Central-leading Tigers were desperately hoping to win the series finale against the second-place Guardians, whose recent rally coupled with Detroit’s slump has made the division race competitive with a little more than a week left in the regular seaso

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