Skubal was hit by a grand slam as Detroit's surprising run ended with a loss to the Guards in the ALDS

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tarik Skubal's regular season was a memorable one, filled with dominant performances, strikeouts and wins.

His postseason will be remembered for one inning.

And a pitch.

With Detroit's season on the line, the left-hander gave up a grand slam to Lane Thomas when Cleveland tagged Skubal for five runs in the fifth inning The 7:3 win on Saturday over the Tigers in Game 5 of the AL Division Series.

The ending was bitter and biting for Skubal and the Tigers, who mounted a surprising two-month sprint to reach the postseason before defeating Houston in the wild-card round.

“Obviously not the result I wanted, but I’m so proud of this team,” said Skubal, who felt he should have given the Tigers more. “It's unbelievable what we've achieved. We should be very proud.”

For months, the 27-year-old Skubal was the only positive thing about the Tigers, who were out of contention and on their way to another third- or fourth-place finish in the AL Central before jumping out to a 35-16 lead after Aug. 10.

Skubal led the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts, the pitching triple crown likely to be followed by the AL Cy Young Award.

He would gladly trade it for another chance to take the mound in October.

After blanking the Guardians for four innings to extend his postseason scoreless streak to 17 innings, Skubal gave up a leadoff single to Andrés Giménez in the fifth inning. He struck out Brayan Rocchio before Steven Kwan, who batted .524 (11 for 21) in the series, singled.

David Fry, whose pinch-hit home run in Game 4 helped the Guardians tie the series, reached the bases with a weak infield single.

Skubal's scoreless run then ended when he hit José Ramírez on the left hand, forcing Cleveland's first run.

The next four came quickly as Thomas spun Skubal's first pitch, a 96.9 sinker that got too much off the plate. The Cleveland center fielder sent the ball over the wall in left center for his second home run of the series.

“What a swing,” Skubal said. “The moment was the moment. I'd like it back, but early in the game they had the bases loaded and didn't score. Right now you're thinking about running the pitch and I haven't done it.

“I thought my stuff was fine all day, even in the fifth.”

Thomas, who grounded out and retired in his first two at-bats, was thrilled to make contact with Skubal.

“Given the success this guy has had this year, you have to respect the fastball at all times,” he said. “He finally threw one at me. I said to our hitting coach, “Man, I've never seen anyone throw so hard and throw so well at me.”

“You just take off your cap. He threw one over the plate…and I was good at swinging it.”

When he came out after six innings, Skubal was greeted with hugs and handshakes from all the Tigers.

Manager AJ Hinch didn't want to blame his left-hander and made sure his pitcher understood that.

“Obviously he gave everything he could and then some,” Hinch said. “Today wasn’t his fault. He was in complete control of the game and wished we had put in a few runs for him to give him some breathing room and that was a big blow.

“This one will eat at him all season because of what was at stake. But give me that guy again in a playoff series, in a playoff-deciding game, and I look forward to getting his name in the starting lineup as a pitcher.”

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