08/04/26 11:23:00
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08/04 23:21 CDT Tarik Skubal pitches 6 effective innings in Dodgers debut
against Cubs
Tarik Skubal pitches 6 effective innings in Dodgers debut against Cubs
By JAY COHEN
AP Baseball Writer
CHICAGO (AP) --- Tarik Skubal was booed during his Los Angeles Dodgers debut on
Tuesday night. No big deal, he said.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner actually enjoyed the chilly reception.
Skubal pitched six effective innings in his first start with Los Angeles, but
the Dodgers managed just four hits in a 5-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The ace
left-hander was serenaded with boos when he was introduced with the starting
lineups and once again when he went out to the mound for his first career
appearance at Wrigley Field.
"Whether they're rooting against you or for you, I love the fans," Skubal said.
"This game is about the fans as much as it's about the players. But the fans
create the environment. It's a ton of fun to play in front of crowds like that,
even if they're booing me or whatever it is."
The 29-year-old Skubal was acquired in a trade with Detroit on Saturday night.
The Dodgers are hoping he can play a key role in its third consecutive World
Series championship. He went 4-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his last six starts for the
Tigers, striking out 50 in 37 innings.
Skubal, who is eligible for free agency after this season, surrendered two runs
and four hits in his first start with LA. He struck out six and walked two
while throwing 85 pitches, 51 for strikes.
"Tarik's stuff was good. It was good," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "I
think that this was the first time I saw him live, but even when it's not
perfect, it's still pretty dang good."
Skubal's arrival cemented the Dodgers' status as the majors' most imposing
franchise and public enemy No. 1 for fans of other teams. A plane flew over
Wrigley hours before his first start with a banner that read "THE DODGERS
RUINED BASEBALL," but the message appeared to be upside down.
"I'm sure that's not going to be the only, you know, rowdy atmosphere on the
road," Skubal said. "I plan on pitching in front of those atmospheres for the
rest of the season. And then obviously when it comes postseason time, I'll be
ready to go."
Skubal struck out three while retiring his first six batters. He surrendered a
leadoff homer to Dansby Swanson on his first pitch of the third, and Chicago
put two runners on with two down. But Skubal retired Alex Bregman on a flyball
to center fielder Andy Pages, ending the inning.
Skubal allowed a second run on Nico Hoerner's infield chopper with two down in
the sixth, giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead.
"I'm glad he's on our side," shortstop Mookie Betts said of Skubal. "He did an
amazing job tonight."
The NL West-leading Dodgers backed Skubal with a couple of stellar defensive
plays. Pages robbed Seiya Suzuki and Pedro Ramrez with two terrific catches,
and Kyle Tucker made a lunging grab on Nico Hoerner's sinking liner to right in
the second.
"I mean Pages in center, he covered a ton of ground on all those kind of soft
flyballs, and Tuck made some good plays, too," Skubal said.
Skubal threw to Ben Rortvedt, who was behind the plate a day after he was
acquired in a trade with the New York Mets. The Dodgers also activated catcher
Hunter Fedducia, who came over in a deal with Tampa Bay on Monday. Eliezer
Alfonzo was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and fellow catcher Chuckie
Robinson was designated for assignment.
Catching depth is an issue for Los Angeles at the moment. Will Smith is working
his way back from a neck issue, and Dalton Rushing was placed on the 10-day
injured list on Monday with right elbow inflammation.
MRI results revealed a slight UCL tear for Rushing, who won't be able to throw
for a few weeks. It's unclear if he'll be able to catch again this season.
Skubal praised Rortvedt's work in the tough spot.
"He's great back there," he said. "Called a great game, you know, on the same
page all night. What he was trying to do feeds right into what I'm trying to do
on the mound."
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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