Tigers' Tarik Skubal Flirts With No-Hitter, Yields Rare 3-0 Hit

Detroit's ace pitcher lost his no-hit bid in the fifth inning but rebounded to earn the win.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:43am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting Tarik Skubal's pitching motion and the baseball leaving his hand, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in muted earth tones, conceptually representing the fleeting nature of a no-hit bid.Skubal's rare lapse in control is deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece, capturing the pitcher's resilience and the fleeting nature of a no-hit bid.Boston Today

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, but surrendered a leadoff single to Wilyer Abreu. Skubal then did something he hadn't done in five seasons - he gave up a hit on a 3-0 count to the next batter, Ceddanne Rafaela, who doubled off the Green Monster. Skubal regrouped and finished with 10 strikeouts in six innings as the Tigers ended a nine-game road losing streak with a 4-1 victory.

Why it matters

Skubal is a two-time Cy Young award winner known for his exceptional control and command of the strike zone. Giving up a hit on a 3-0 count is an extremely rare occurrence for the left-hander, highlighting how he was able to rebound and maintain his composure to secure the win for Detroit.

The details

After losing his no-hit bid, Skubal walked the next batter to load the bases with no outs in the fifth inning. However, he induced a run-scoring double play and a flyout to limit the damage. Skubal settled down and struck out two more batters in the sixth inning to finish his quality start.

  • Skubal carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • Skubal last surrendered a hit on a 3-0 count to the Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez on May 25, 2021.

The players

Tarik Skubal

A 29-year-old left-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, and a two-time Cy Young award winner known for his exceptional control and command of the strike zone.

Wilyer Abreu

An outfielder for the Boston Red Sox who broke up Skubal's no-hit bid with a leadoff single in the fifth inning.

Ceddanne Rafaela

A Red Sox batter who hit a double off Skubal on a 3-0 count, the first time Skubal had given up a hit on a 3-0 pitch in five years.

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What’s next

The Tigers will look to build on Skubal's strong outing as they continue their series against the Red Sox on Sunday.

The takeaway

Despite losing his no-hit bid and surrendering a rare 3-0 count hit, Tarik Skubal demonstrated his resilience and ability to regain his composure, showcasing the skills that have made him a two-time Cy Young award winner. This performance highlights Skubal's value as he approaches free agency next offseason.