The Cleveland Guardians advanced to the American League Championship Series for the first time since 2016 with a 7-3 victory in a winner-take-all Game 5 of the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers.
Guardians center fielder Lane Thomas etched his name into franchise lore after accounting for five of the team’s runs thanks to a grand slam and an RBI single. For Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the presumptive Cy Young award winner in the AL, this was a disappointing finish to a career year, however.
Skubal threw 13 scoreless innings to open the postseason. Through four innings on Saturday, Guardians hitters still didn’t have an answer for the southpaw.
Everything changed in the fifth.
Three singles loaded up the bases for Cleveland with one out and then Skubal plunked third baseman José Ramírez with a sinker to give the Guardians their first run. His next sinker was far more damaging as Thomas deposited it into the bleachers.
Thomas slugged only .390 after his midseason trade to the Guardians but has been a difference-maker in October. Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell was among those rejoicing after his heroics Saturday.
Detroit wasn’t totally out of it from there.
Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson doubled and scored with two outs to make it a 5-2 game in the sixth. Detroit loaded the bases before a strikeout by designated hitter Kerry Carpenter ended the threat.
Second baseman Colt Keith also hit an RBI double in the seventh to trim the deficit further. Guardians reliever Eli Morgan got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
Closer Emmanuel Clase came on midway through the eighth for a six-out save opportunity. He logged more than one inning just once during the regular season, so bringing him out that early was a bit of a risk by manager Stephen Vogt.
The three-time All-Star didn’t allow a baserunner as he set down six straight Tigers hitters to seal the win.
The Guardians open the ALCS on Monday at Yankee Stadium, with first pitch scheduled at 7:38 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees claimed four of six wins during their season series and have a 15-12 edge all time in the playoffs.
Given what Cleveland has achieved this year, nobody will be writing off the underdog.
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