Tarik Skubal’s first pitch with Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic couldn’t have gone much worse.

Skubal, known to pepper the strike zone early to get ahead in the count, threw Great Britain center fielder Nate Eaton a pitch right down the middle to open the game and the Boston Red Sock did not miss.

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Eaton hammered a line drive to left-center field that was first ruled a double, but then after a short review, it was determined the ball cleared the fence to give Great Britain a 1-0 lead.

The back-to-back Cy Young winner is a mere mortal after all. But not for long.

Skubal was none too pleased after surrendering the home run and pitched like it over his three inning appearance for Team USA, his only scheduled outing in the World Baseball Classic before he heads back to Lakeland, Florida, to prepare for the season with the Detroit Tigers.

The lefty retired the next eight batters he faced, which included four strikeouts.

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The only other time someone got on base? Eaton, of course, who reached when he hit an awkward groundball to USA shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who rushed to try and get the throw to first baseman Bryce Harper and misfired, allowing Eaton to reach second base.

The play was ruled an infield single with an error to advance the runner.

Skubal finished his outing with another strikeout, his fifth of the day, getting Yankees star Jazz Chisholm to chase on a 3-2 count.

• Innings pitched: 3.

• Pitches: 41.

• Strikeouts: 5.

• Hits: 2.

• Walks: Zero.

• Earned runs: 1.

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Andrew Birkle is an assistant sports editor for the Free Press. Contact him via email at abirkle@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Here’s how Tarik Skubal pitched in World Baseball Classic for Team USA