By Larry Arreguin| LPL News Wire| March 27, 2026

SAN DIEGO, CA (3-27-26) — The Detroit Tigers wasted no time making a statement to open the 2026 season, rolling past the San Diego Padres 8-2 at Petco Park behind a dominant pitching performance and explosive early offense.

Detroit jumped on the Padres immediately, plating four runs in the opening inning and never looking back. The Tigers added two more in the third and two in the fifth, finishing with 8 runs on 12 hits to set the tone for the series.

Ace Tarik Skubal (#29) was in midseason form, earning the win with a stellar outing. The left-hander tossed 6.0 innings, allowing just 3 hits, no earned runs, and striking out six without issuing a walk. He controlled the game from the start, keeping San Diego hitters off balance throughout his 74-pitch performance.

Offensively, rookie third baseman Kevin McGonigle (#7) delivered a breakout performance in his season debut. McGonigle went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored, pacing a Tigers lineup that saw contributions up and down the order.

Catcher Dillon Dingler (#13) added power to the attack, launching a two-run home run in the fifth inning and finishing with three RBIs. Parker Meadows (#22) chipped in with two RBIs, while Spencer Torkelson (#20) drove in a run as part of the balanced offensive effort.

San Diego managed just five hits on the night, with Xander Bogaerts (#2) and Ramon Laureano (#5) accounting for the Padres’ only RBIs. Laureano’s solo home run in the seventh broke up the shutout, but the outcome was never in doubt.

Detroit’s bullpen held firm late, with Will Vest (#19) closing out the ninth to secure the opening day victory.

With the win, the Tigers take an early 1-0 record and will look to continue their momentum with two more games in San Diego before heading to Arizona for a three-game set. Detroit will then return home for its home opener on Good Friday (4-3-26) against the St. Louis Cardinals.

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