BASEBALL: Corbin Carroll's HR only run needed as D-backs blank Tigers

Corbin Carroll became the sixth left-handed hitter to homer off Tarik Skubal, and a strong performance from Zac Gallen and three Arizona relievers carried the Diamondbacks to a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, completing a three-game sweep.

Carroll crushed a 97 mph fastball over the left-center fence for his second homer of the season, coming as the second batter in the bottom of the first inning. His solo shot proved to be the game-winner.

Two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Skubal (1-1) had previously allowed only one homer to a left-handed batter in each of his first five seasons, with Edouard Julien accounting for the lone blast in 2025.

Gallen (1-1) was solid on the mound, giving up four hits over six scoreless innings while striking out two and walking none. Jonathan Loaisiga closed the game for his first save, despite Kevin McGonigle opening the ninth with a single. Gleyber Torres grounded into a double play, and Riley Greene doubled before Dillon Dingler’s final out ended the game.

Skubal pitched seven innings, allowing six hits with three strikeouts and no walks. He threw 87 pitches, 60 for strikes, and reached 100 mph when getting Gabriel Moreno to ground into a double play in the sixth. He has now surrendered 91 career home runs.

Carroll had two of the Diamondbacks’ six hits, helping the team improve to 3-3 on the season. For the Tigers (2-4), Kevin McGonigle collected two hits, but the team has dropped four straight games.

Colt Keith was Detroit’s only player to reach second base in the first five innings, doubling off the top of the right-field fence in the third before being stranded. The Tigers threatened in the sixth, as McGonigle tripled down the right-field line with one out, but a line drive by Torres to first baseman Jose Fernandez ended the inning when the throw to third doubled off McGonigle.

Fernandez, who made headlines by hitting two homers in his major league debut Monday, made his first start at first base after playing third on Tuesday.

Carroll has now homered off six Cy Young winners, including two in this series, after a three-run blast off Justin Verlander in Monday’s 9-6 win over the Tigers.

—Field Level Media/Reuters