Skubal, Tigers Too Much for Athletics

Max Muncy of the Athletics after an inning-ending flyout against the Tigers

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

July 7, 2026

Tigers 6, Athletics 2

Tarik Skubal struck out the first three batters of the game, an omen for the rest of his outing as the Athletics bowed to the host Detroit Tigers, 6–2, Tuesday night. Skubal lasted five innings, striking out nine and walking two as he allowed one run on five hits. The Athletics kept it close until the bottom of the sixth, when the bottom of the Tigers order exploded for four runs and all but sealed the game.

Athletics rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, playing his seventh game since debuting June 29, continued his hot streak, going 3-for-4 with a double. Starting pitcher J.T. Ginn allowed two runs on two hits across four innings, walking two and striking out four.

The loss means the Athletics have now dropped four in a row. Additionally, they have lost eight of their last nine and twelve of their last fifteen games.

Athletics – Tigers Game Summary

After Skubal mowed through the top of the first, Colt Keith launched a two-run homer to right-center in the bottom of the inning. Henry Bolte got a run back in the top of the third with a no-doubt solo homer to left.

The 2–1 score held until the bottom of the sixth. Athletics reliever Jacob Lopez, recently returned from Triple-A Las Vegas, started the inning with two quick outs. But it got away from him after that. A Zach McKinstry walk and Spencer Torkelson single started the merry-go-round. A Ben Malgeri double, Matt Vierling double, and Kevin McGonigle single later, the Tigers had extended their lead to 6–1.

Though the Malgeri play went down as a double, it should have been caught for a flyout. A miscommunication between right fielder Lawrence Butler and second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer led to the ball dropping.

The Athletics scored a run on a Shea Langeliers single off Tigers reliever Drew Anderson in the seventh to get within slam range. But Jacob Waguespack pitched a perfect final two innings to quell any thoughts of a comeback.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Starting Pitching

J.T. Ginn mostly kept the Tigers off the scoreboard in his four-inning appearance. The only runs he allowed came on the first-inning homer by Keith. He tossed a 1-2-3 second, ending on two straight strikeouts. In the third, he avoided damage after a one-out fielding error followed by a walk. Once again, he escaped after two straight strikeouts. In the fourth, he got himself into trouble with a leadoff plunking followed by a single to right that put runners on the corners. But a groundball to third cut down the lead runner on a play at the plate. After that, a liner to left and fly to right ended the inning.

Mostly Stayed Close

For the first five innings, the pitching efforts of Ginn and Lopez kept the Athletics within one run of tying the game.

Joshua Kuroda-Grauer

As mentioned earlier, the rookie continued his hot streak by going 3-for-4 with a double. After seven games in the majors, he is 12-for-26 (.462/.481/.577) with three doubles and an RBI.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

Defense

Center fielder Henry Bolte made an error in the fourth when he dropped a fly ball. That runner did not score, but the sixth inning cross-up between Butler and Kuroda-Grauer, as mentioned earlier, proved costly. It led to four runs, turning a manageable one-run deficit into a daunting five-run hole. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told reporters after the game, “The ball has to be caught. KG went after it, calling it. Lawrence is calling it. It’s the outfielder’s priority to make that play. KG bailed out of the way. Whether that distracted Lawrence, that play should be made.”

Illness

Though Ginn pitched four effective innings, his velocity was down. This forced his removal after 61 pitches. After the game, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com revealed via X (formerly Twitter) that Ginn was battling an illness, explaining his early exit.

Strikeouts

The Athletics combined to strike out 12 times. Four of their hitters — Zack Gelof, Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, and Colby Thomas — whiffed multiple times. Gelof fanned four times, giving him a Golden Sombrero.

Missed Chances

The Athletics left nine runners on base. Six of the nine were in scoring position. They left runners on second and third in the second inning when Max Muncy struck out looking. But perhaps the costliest stranding came in the top of the seventh. Langeliers had already driven a run with his single, bringing the Athletics to within 6–2. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Jacob Wilson struck out looking.

Looking Ahead

Skubal (5–4, 3.06 ERA) grabbed the win as Ginn (7–5, 3.10) took the loss. There was no save.

The Athletics (41–50) and Tigers (41–50) will play the second game of their three-game series Wednesday at Comerica Park. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3–8, 5.79 ERA) will take the mound for the Athletics against Tigers right-hander Troy Melton (4–1, 2.05 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:40 pm Eastern/3:40 pm Pacific.