Detroit Tigers vs Los Angeles Dodgers

The game was scoreless through four innings as both starting pitchers held firm. Tigers right-hander Drew Anderson matched Skubal early, retiring the first six Dodgers he faced before running into traffic.

5th inning — Tigers strike first. Eduardo Valencia led off with a double off Skubal, and after two groundouts, rookie outfielder Max Clark laced a two-out triple to right-centre, scoring Valencia for a 1-0 Tigers lead. It was Clark's third career triple, all since 8 August.

6th inning — Dodgers answer. The Tigers turned to left-handed reliever Drew Sommers to begin the sixth. Enrique Hernández led off with a single, Teoscar Hernández followed with a base hit, and after a sacrifice bunt, Miguel Rojas — pinch-hitting for Hunter Feduccia — lined an RBI single to left, tying the game 1-1. Ben Malgeri threw out Kyle Tucker at the plate to keep the score level.

8th inning — Freeman delivers. With one out, Teoscar Hernández singled off Tigers reliever Jacob Waguespack (1-2). Kiké Hernández walked. After a flyout, Freeman — the 2020 NL MVP — ripped a 2-2 pitch up the middle, scoring Teoscar Hernández from second to put the Dodgers ahead 2-1.

9th inning — Scott closes. Tanner Scott worked around a one-out single by Brett Callahan to record his 20th save in 22 chances, striking out Malgeri to end it.

Freeman's two-out single in the eighth was the decisive blow, but the game swung earlier. In the bottom of the sixth, with the score 1-1 and runners at the corners, Kyle Tucker tried to score from second on a single to left. Ben Malgeri's throw to the plate — relayed by Hao-Yu Lee — cut Tucker down, preserving the tie. Had Tucker scored, the Dodgers would have taken a 2-1 lead that inning. Instead, the game stayed deadlocked until Freeman's hit two frames later.

• Tarik Skubal (LAD) — Player of the Match. 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 83 pitches. Retired 12 straight batters after a leadoff double in the first.
• Freddie Freeman (LAD) — 2-for-4, game-winning RBI single in the 8th.
• Max Clark (DET) — 1-for-2 with a walk, RBI triple in the 5th.
• Evan Phillips (LAD) — W (2-2), 1 IP, 0 H, 3 K, 10 pitches. Dominant seventh inning.

The Dodgers out-hit the Tigers 9-5 but went just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Skubal's five strikeouts came on his changeup, which Tigers hitters whiffed at six times. L.A.'s bullpen — Phillips, Brock Stewart, Alex Vesia and Tanner Scott — combined for 3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out six.

The Dodgers (81-54) maintained their grip on first place in the NL West, snapping a three-game slide. The Tigers (62-72) fell to 8-12 in their last 20 games and sit fourth in the AL Central.

Next up: Game 2 of the series — Dodgers LHP Blake Snell (2-1, 2.57 ERA) vs Tigers RHP Keider Montero (9-8, 3.30) on Saturday 29 August at Comerica Park.

A classic pitchers' duel that lived up to the emotional stakes of Skubal's return. The former Tiger was every bit as sharp as during his Cy Young years in Detroit, but the Dodgers' bullpen depth and Freeman's clutch hit made the one-run difference. The Tigers showed fight but couldn't push across a second run against the league's best bullpen.

Tarik Skubal (LAD) — 6 IP, 1 ER, 7 K, 0 BB in an emotionally charged return to Comerica Park.