Yankees Triumph Over Tarik Skubal with Three Home Runs

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, June 25, 2026

The New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers 4-2 at Comerica Park by hitting three home runs off Tarik Skubal, marking the first time multiple long balls were allowed by the left-hander since 2021. This game highlights both Skubal’s continued excellence as a top pitcher and the Yankees’ ability to exploit rare mistakes, with Skubal’s strong performance increasing his trade value as the Tigers consider moves amid a disappointing season.

DETROIT — The New York Yankees overcame Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal by hitting three home runs on their way to a 4-2 victory at Comerica Park on Wednesday night, marking the first time any team had hit multiple long balls off Skubal since 2021.

Skubal, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, was making his third start since returning from the injured list. Despite allowing only four hits across six innings, the Tigers lefty surrendered three home runs, including two from veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and a decisive two-run shot from Jasson Domínguez.

Goldschmidt opened the scoring with a home run to lead off the game, extending his success against Skubal. The veteran is now 7-for-13 lifetime against the lefty with four career home runs, tied for the most by any batter facing him. Goldschmidt struggled to explain his consistent success against such a formidable pitcher. “There’s not really a recipe to try to beat him,” he said. “He’s got four really good pitches, he competes as good as anyone.”

The game remained tied at 2-2 entering the sixth inning, when Ben Rice singled and Domínguez, who had struck out in his first two at-bats against Skubal, delivered his first right-handed home run of the season. Domínguez battled back from an 0-2 count to work a full count before connecting on a hanging changeup, providing the eventual winning runs.

“Skubal is one of the best,” Domínguez said. “He’s definitely a tough matchup. But I was just trying to take a good at-bat. Trying to fight him, trying to battle.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone praised both his players and Skubal’s performance, highlighting the challenge the lefty presents. “This deep in his career, he’s just so tough on lefties and obviously he’s had a good run against Tarik, who I thought was pretty great tonight,” Boone said. “We ran into a few.”

On the mound for New York, left-hander Ryan Weathers outperformed Skubal, pitching six innings while allowing two runs (one earned). He kept the Yankees in contention before the bullpen—comprised of Camilo Doval, Fernando Cruz, and David Bednar—provided three scoreless innings to close out the win. Bednar extended his streak to 11 consecutive scoreless appearances.

Skubal’s strong showing, combined with his status as a highly coveted trade asset, has drawn attention around the league. The Tigers, currently struggling with a 34-46 record, may consider moving Skubal this offseason if they cannot recover from their slow start. The Yankees, among other interested teams, are reportedly monitoring his availability.

Wednesday's game stands as a reminder of Skubal’s dominance, tempered by New York’s ability to capitalize on the rare mistakes, underscoring the delicate balance between elite pitching and timely hitting. The win improved the Yankees’ record to 48-31 as they prepare for a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.