Spectacular start! Kevin McGonigle, Tarik Skubal star as Tigers romp
San Diego – If AJ Hinch could’ve drawn it up, the season-opener might’ve looked something like this. The Tigers enjoyed an 8-2 romp over the San Diego Padres on a sun-drenched Thursday before 45,673 patrons at Petco Park, in a game that his ace lefty Tarik Skubal dominated and Kevin McGonigle, his prized rookie, checked off a lot of firsts in his big-league debut. BOX SCORE: Tigers 8, Padres 2 McGonigle slapped a double to right-field on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues, knocking in two runs in a four-run first inning.
First at-bat, check. First hit, check. First extra-base hit, check.
First RBI, check. He lashed a double in his second at-bat, too. First multi-hit game, check.
This one capped an impressive six-pitch at-bat against Padres’ veteran right-hander Nick Pivetta. McGonigle fought out of an 0-2 hole, took a curveball, fouled off a curveball and then barreled a 92-mph fastball. The ball left his bat at 105.
9 mph and hit off the right field wall, missing a home run by a couple of feet. For good measure, he tested and beat the elite throwing arm of right fielder Fernando Tatis, Jr. , to earn the hustle double.