Carlos Santana played a pivotal role in the Cleveland Guardians’ 7-0 victory against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night, hitting a two-run double in the fourth inning. Angel Martínez also contributed with a solo home run in the fifth, while Tanner Bibee showcased an impressive performance on the mound, throwing seven scoreless innings.
This matchup marked the first time these teams faced each other since the Guardians triumphed in their AL Division Series last October. The Tigers, leading the American League and having won seven out of their last nine games, faced a surprising setback against a Guardians team that had previously lost seven of its last ten games.
Bibee (4-4) was dominant, allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out eight batters, which was three more than his best performance in the previous nine starts this season. Jack Flaherty (2-6) managed to strike out eight batters as well but struggled, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings. Flaherty even reached a milestone during the game, achieving his 1,000th career strikeout early on.
The decisive moment came in the fourth inning when Cleveland broke the scoreless deadlock with two runs following a single by José Ramírez. The Guardians bolstered their lead further with a four-run ninth inning, benefiting from a crucial fielding error by third baseman Zach McKinstry, which allowed Santana to cross the plate after he walked earlier in the inning.
As the teams get ready for their next game, Detroit’s Jackson Jobe (4-0, 4.12 ERA) and Cleveland’s Slade Cecconi (0-1, 5.40) are set to take the mound in what promises to be an exciting matchup.
This win demonstrates Cleveland’s resilience and ability to bounce back after recent struggles, showcasing their potential as they head into future games.