CLEVELAND -- The last time Tarik Skubal allowed multiple runs in a game, the Tigers were in Oakland on Sept. 6, still fighting to stay over .500. Skubal gave up two runs to the A’s in a wild extra-inning affair, and Detroit fell back to break-even.

The last time Skubal gave up a home run, Colorado’s Jordan Beck got him on a drive to left at Comerica Park on Sept. 12, the only run Skubal allowed in a loss that dropped Detroit 3 1/2 games back in the AL Wild Card race.

The last time Skubal allowed a run of any sort, Yuli Gurriel hit a first-inning RBI single off of him on Sept. 18 in Kansas City, a game that saw the Royals tax him for 95 pitches over five innings but Detroit still get a win to close the Wild Card gap.

As Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out Saturday, Skubal had a 28-inning scoreless streak and a 32-inning homerless streak. In a Tigers run that has thrived on matchups, Detroit wouldn’t have wanted anyone else in it. And as Thomas sent Skubal’s first-pitch fastball deep to left for a go-ahead grand slam, this was the matchup on which Game 5 of the AL Division Series turned, even if it was far from the only reason the Tigers lost.

Though Detroit whittled the gap late, it couldn’t get the big hit to answer. And with Saturday’s 7-3 defeat, their incredible run from under .500 to the postseason finally came to an end.