Skubal has 9 strikeouts in 6 innings, Canha and Meadows homer as Tigers beat Rays 7

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tarik Skubal struck out nine over six scoreless innings, Mark Canha and Parker Meadows homered, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-1 on Monday night.

The Tigers improved to 9-3 on the road this season.

Skubal (3-0) scattered three hits in winning his seventh consecutive decision, dating to last September. The left-hander is 2-0 in four starts against the Rays. allowing two earned runs over 17 1/3 innings.

“When he’s dominant in the strike zone, and he gets them in swing mode, and you given him the lead, it just gives him a leash to pitch aggressively to the strike zone,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said,

Skubal lowered his ERA from 2.28 to 1.82. This was his first career start of six or more scoreless innings, nine or more strikeouts and no walks.

“I thought my mix was pretty good” said Skubal, who threw 58 of 86 pitches for strikes. “I felt like I was pretty aggressive.”