ATLANTA — Left-hander Tarik Skubal is the leader of the Detroit Tigers.

Skubal also led the American League into the 2025 MLB All-Star Game as the starting pitcher against the National League on Tuesday, July 15, at Truist Park, but he surrendered two runs on three hits in a 19-pitch first inning.

It didn’t get any better for the Tigers.

“Great environment,” Skubal said, less than 45 minutes after completing Tuesday’s start. “The introductions were pretty cool with everyone they had on stage, and the flyover was pretty special. Anytime you get a flyover like that, it gives you the goosebumps as an athlete. Everywhere MLB takes the game, it’s always fun to play in.”

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The AL erased a six-run deficit with four runs in the seventh inning (fueled by Brent Rooker’s three-run home run) and two runs in the ninth inning (capped by Steven Kwan’s game-tying infield single with two strikes and two outs), forcing a Home Run Derby to determine the winner of the All-Star Game.

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It was tied 6-6 after nine innings.

For the swing-off, three players from each team received three swings apiece.

The AL participants: Rooker (two homers), Randy Arozarena (one homer), Jonathan Aranda (zero homers). The NL participants: Kyle Stowers (one homer), Kyle Schwarber (three homers), Pete Alonso (did not swing).

The NL won the Home Run Derby tiebreaker, 4-3.

“It’ll be interesting to see where that goes,” AL manager Aaron Boone said after Tuesday’s game. “There’s probably a world where you could see that in the future, where maybe it’s in some regular season mix. I wouldn’t be surprised if people start talking about it like that.”

How Tigers players performed in All-Star Game

The Tigers sent six players to the All-Star Game, including four starters: Skubal, second baseman Gleyber Torres, left fielder Riley Greene and center fielder Javier Báez.

All six competed in the 95th Midsummer Classic, but none had positive performances.

The pitchers: Skubal allowed two runs in the first inning and right-hander Casey Mize allowed one run in the sixth inning. The position players: Torres, Greene, Báez and designated hitter Zach McKinstry finished 0-for-8 with three strikeouts.

“It feels great to play at this level, the way we’re playing and the way I’m playing,” Báez said during Tuesday’s game. “With how many Tigers we got here, it’s a blessing. Hopefully, we finish strong.”

“It’s been special,” Torres said during the game, standing next to Báez outside the AL clubhouse. “It’s an honor. I really enjoyed tonight. I’m excited for the second half. We have to keep working. It’s going to be special for us.”

The first inning wasn’t kind to the Tigers.

In the top of the first, Torres and Greene opened the game with back-to-back strikeouts against right-hander Paul Skenes. Torres struck out swinging on a 99.7 mph fastball; Greene struck out swinging on a 100.3 mph fastball.

In the bottom of the first, Skubal gave up three hits in a row to begin his outing: Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. produced weak hits for singles, then Ketel Marte ripped a double down the first-base line into the right-field corner, scoring two runs.

Just like that, the NL grabbed a 2-0 advantage.

Skubal bounced back with three outs in a row to end the first inning: Freddie Freeman grounded out, Manny Machado struck out and Will Smith struck out.

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In the third inning, both Báez and Torres grounded out against right-hander Logan Webb.

Greene struck out swinging for the second time in the fourth inning, this time chasing a slider from left-hander David Peterson, while Báez grounded out for the second time in the fifth inning, facing left-hander MacKenzie Gore.

The Tigers also had trouble in the sixth inning. Greene flew out against left-hander Andrew Abbott in his third and final plate appearance. In the bottom half, Mize surrendered a solo home run to Corbin Carroll on a hanging slider with two outs.

The homer put the NL ahead, 6-0.

Mize, though, retired the other two batters he faced in his 10-pitch outing, inducing a flyout against Hunter Goodman and a strikeout against Elly De La Cruz — with the home run in between. De La Cruz whiffed three times, including on a 95.7 mph fastball for the strikeout.

McKinstry entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, taking over as the designated hitter with a runner on first base and two outs against right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. He fell behind 0-2 in the count and flew out to end the inning.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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