DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Detroit’s Tarik Skubal picked up where he left off in the regular season, continuing his sensational pitching. He shut down the Houston Astros in six innings of work with six strikeouts, four this, and no runs. The Tigers pitching staff held strong in the final three innings as Beau Brieske took the save and game one, 3-1.

“It was a good challenge. It was fun,” said Skubal. “It was a ton of fun. I enjoyed it. It’s probably the most nervous I’ve been since my debut. That was also fun to deal with. What a game. I was fun, glad to come out with a win.”

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Brieske came through with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth as the Astros Jason Heyward lined a ball that first baseman Spencer Torkelson snagged. Will Vest went 1.2 innings with four strikeouts as Tyler Holton and Jason Foley each worked a third of an inning.

It only took one inning for the Tigers to back Skubal, who scored three in the second. Three straight singles to center field from Jake Rogers, Trey Sweeney, and Matt Vierling made it 3-0.

“We talk about pressure on the bases. We talk about good at-bats. We talk about passing the baton. All those things came through with Tarik on the mound, too,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. “I don’t think it’s a small thing today in the first playoff game from a lot of these guys that it looked eerily familiar to the last two months.”

Game two of the series will be at 2:32 p.m. on Wednesday in Houston and can be watched on ABC.