San Francisco Frontiers - Tigers beat Astros, Royals blank Orioles to open MLB playoffs

The visiting Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three American League wildcard series, which continues Wednesday in Houston.

Skubal, a 27-year-old left-hander, struck out six while allowing four hits and a walk in his first playoff start.

The American was the first pitcher to complete a pitching Triple Crown sweep in a full season since 2011, leading the AL with 18 wins, 228 strikeouts and a 2.39 earned-run average.

"Skub was Skub," Detroit catcher Jake Rogers said. "He has been electric. He has been in the zone. He has challenged guys all year. It was awesome."

Houston, seeking a second MLB crown in three seasons, produced drama in the ninth inning, pushing across a run and loading the bases before Jason Heyward flew out to Tiger first baseman Spencer Torkelson to end the game.

"That ninth inning was crazy," Rogers said. "But we got through it and got the win."

In the other AL wildcard opener, Kansas City edged host Baltimore 1-0, dealing the Orioles a ninth consecutive playoff loss since they last won a post-season game in 2014.

"It's huge," said Royals slugger Bobby Witt Jr., who drove in the winning run. "It just shows the team's relentlessness and how we play every pitch until the end."

Royals left-hander Cole Ragans struck out eight over six scoreless innings while allowing four hits in the victory.

"He did an unbelievable job," Witt said of Ragans.

At Houston, Astros left-hander Framber Valdez surrendered three runs in the second inning as Wenceel Perez singled, took second base when Torkelson walked, advanced on a fielder's choice and scored on a Rogers single. Trey Sweeney and Matt Vierling followed with run-scoring singles for the Tigers.

In the ninth, the Astros scored when Jordan Alvarez doubled then was followed by singles from Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz. Jeremy Pena advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt and reliever Beau Brieske issued a two-out walk to Chas McCormick to load the bases but Heyward's fly out ended the game.

Ex-Astros manager A.J. Hinch, who guided Houston to a 2017 World series crown, managed the Tigers to their first playoff trip since 2014.

- Royals edge Orioles -

At Baltimore, Kansas City scored in the sixth when Maikel Garcia walked, stole second, took third on a ground out and crossed home plate on Witt's single to left field.

After stranding two runners in the eighth, the Orioles put the tying run on base again in the ninth when Ryan O'Hearn walked, but Royals reliever Lucas Erceg retired the next three batters to end the game.

Baltimore right-hander Corbin Burnes pitched eight innings, the longest Orioles playoff start since 1997, and struck out three while allowing only one run on five hits and a walk.

National League wildcard openers later Tuesday include the New York Mets at Milwaukee and the Atlanta Braves at San Diego.

Atlanta left NL Triple Crown pitcher Chris Sale off the roster for the Padres series. The 35-year-old left-hander was sidelined Monday by back spasms after leading the NL with 18 wins, 225 strikeouts and a 2.38 ERA.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have NL first-round byes while the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians have AL first-round byes.

Y.Harris--SFF