ALDS: Tigers on Cusp of ALCS with Win over Guardians

Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images

October 9, 2024

Tigers 3, Guardians 0

The Detroit Tigers took a 2–1 lead in the ALDS with a 3–0 win against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday afternoon. It was nothing but pitching and hitting chaos, and mastery from Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, whose team has held the Guardians scoreless since the seventh inning of Game One. That translates into a 20-inning drought at the hands of the Tigers. They used an RBI double by Spencer Torkelson in the sixth inning to take the upper hand in this series. Both teams will take the field in what could be the deciding contest in this ALDS on Thursday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 6:08 pm Eastern at Comerica Park in Detroit. Right-hander Tanner Bibee (0–0, 0.00) will get the ball for the Guardians, while the Tigers have yet to announce their starting pitcher for Game Four.

Tigers Grab Early Lead

With Alex Cobb on the hill for the Guardians, the Tigers got off to a fast start in the bottom of the first. Parker Meadows led off with a single to right. After Kerry Carpenter flied to center, Meadows scurried to second on a groundout to short by Matt Vierling. Moments later, Meadows scored from second on a single up the middle by Riley Greene.

The Tigers struck again in the bottom of the third. Jake Rogers doubled to left to open the frame and advanced to third on a groundout to second by Meadows. Up next was Carpenter, who was intentionally walked by Cobb. Rogers scored on the next play, thanks to a sacrifice fly to left by Vierling.

The home nine scored their final run of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth against Guardians reliever Eli Morgan. He opened the inning by striking out Wenceel Perez swinging. Colt Keith followed with a single to right, and quickly moved to second on a wild pitch by Morgan. Up next was Torkelson, who drove in Keith with a sharp double to left.

What Went Right for the Tigers

There are days when you have all the power in the world, and there are days when it’s nowhere to be found. The Tigers were in the latter category on Wednesday. It wasn’t necessary, however, as they put together two RBI base hits by Greene and Torkelson to go along with the sacrifice fly by Vierling.

What Went Wrong for the Tigers

Runners in scoring position continue to be a problem for the Tigers. As a team, they went 2-for-10 in that respect, leaving six men on base. They went 1-for-3, leaving two men on in Monday’s contest, and in Saturday’s game, they went 0-for-5, leaving all five on base. You always need to score, and that’s especially true when your season and playoff hopes are on the line.

Pitching Chaos

It’s a good thing the phone in the Tigers’ bullpen was in working order on Wednesday. Hinch used six pitchers, all of whom had a hand in holding the Guardians scoreless. His starter, Keider Montero, acted as an opener, pitching in the first inning. Next up was lefty Brant Hurter. He tossed 3 1/3 innings and took home the win after allowing five hits, one walk and he struck out one. His record for the playoffs sits at 1–0 with an ERA of zero.

The other pitchers Hinch called upon were Beau Brieske, who tossed two innings with three strikeouts; Sean Guenther, who recorded the second out of the seventh after allowing a walk; Will Vest, who pitched an inning and a third with one strikeout; and Tyler Holton, who pitched the ninth inning and earned his first save of the postseason.

Short Outing for Cobb

Guardians starter Alex Cobb shouldered the loss after tossing three innings. He gave up two runs, both earned, on three hits. Cobb also walked one and struck out two. He now owns a playoff record of 0–1 with an ERA of 6.00.

Postgame Comments

After the game, Hinch was asked if he had originally planned on using six pitchers on Wednesday. “Absolutely not scripted because there’s just so much stuff that goes on,” he said. “And from the very first part of it, Keider had no idea, first off, and responded favorably with an incredible first inning, with a ton of energy in the ballpark and in an atmosphere that was second to none. So when he gets three up, three down, we have Hurter for the beginning of the second for (Josh) Naylor.

“But, yeah, the game’s going to change, the ebbs and flows of things. Runners, guys getting up just in case you need them, defending against their pinch hitters. There was no order that I had in my mind. I just knew I had ten guys available, and we were going to use them.”