Getting hits off Detroit starter Tarik Skubal was easier than Cleveland Guardians fans thought it would be.

Unfortunately, scoring runs was much more difficult, and the Tigers prevailed 8-2 last night at Progressive Field.

Skubal (11-3), an All-Star, pitched seven innings and gave up 10 hits. However, the Guardians only scored one run off him.

Detroit’s Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a two-run homer in the first.

The Tigers doubled their lead when Jake Rogers hit what could have been a two-run inside-the-park homer. Instead, the official scorer called it a triple and an error on Cleveland center fielder Angel Martinez.

Trailing 4-0, the Guardians loaded the bases against Skubal but only game up with a run on a beautiful, daring bunt single by Austin Hedges.

The Tigers finally knocked Carlos Carrasco (3-8) out of the game in the sixth on an RBI double by Wenceel Perez, followed by a sacrifice fly by Gio Urshela.

Detroit scored its final two runs on another sac fly by Urshela and a solo homer by Colt Keith.

Jose Ramirez picked up his 80th RBI of the season in the ninth inning with a fielder’s choice that scored David Fry.

DIVISION RACE

Minnesota and Kansas City both won last night, so the Guardians’ lead over both teams shrunk to four games in the AL Central Division.

Cleveland will try to avoid its first four-game losing streak of the season tonight at 6:40 p.m. Detroit will throw a “bullpen game,” while the Guardians will counter with Xzavion Curry (0-2).