CLEVELAND — Guardians center fielder Lane Thomas recognized the rarity of moments like the one he faced in Game 5 of the AL Division Series against ace Tarik Skubal of the Tigers.
Skubal had masterfully kept Cleveland hitters at bay with another stellar performance until he encountered trouble in the fifth inning of this crucial matchup. After hitting Jose Ramirez with a pitch that allowed the tying run to score, Thomas took his turn at bat with the bases loaded against a pitcher likely to win the AL Cy Young Award.
The crowd at Progressive Field, which had been quiet for much of the game, erupted after one powerful swing.
“You dream of at-bats like that as a kid, and to do it on this stage, in this game, and to come through for the guys in the clubhouse, it feels awesome,” Thomas reflected after blasting a 97 mph fastball from Skubal 396 feet to left field for a grand slam. He noted that during the third inning, he had expressed to teammates that their offense needed to change, saying, “Whatever we’re doing doesn’t seem to be working. We have to put the ball in play.”
Thomas’ slam gave the Guardians a 5-1 lead, contributing to their 7-3 victory and making him the fourth player in MLB postseason history to hit a go-ahead grand slam in a winner-take-all game.
Following Cleveland’s victory that advanced them to the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees, teammates showered Thomas with praise during the celebration in their clubhouse.
“He’s a great ballplayer,” said Josh Naylor of Thomas, who joined the team in July via a trade with the Nationals. “I knew that before we picked him up.”
Ramirez added: “When I got hit, I just knew he would come through. I knew he would.”
Thomas’ home run was 2 feet longer than his first-inning homer in Game 1, solidifying his status as the series hero. His journey since the trade has been significant, as he had struggled with a .111 batting average and a .197 OBP in his first 20 games with Cleveland.
“We paid a steep price [three prospects] to get him but hopefully it was to lead to moments like this,” said Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti amid the clubhouse party. “He’s a complete baseball player.”
Cleveland hitting coach Chris Valaika explained that Thomas just needed time to adjust: “We went through a little evolution with him. Once he became one of the guys here, he was fine.”
Facing Skubal was formidable, especially since the left-hander had thrown 17 scoreless innings in the postseason before hitting Ramirez. Still, Valaika urged hitters to be prepared: “Don’t be late on that first fastball.”
Thomas took that advice to heart, instantly altering the trajectory of the game. His home run allowed manager Stephen Vogt to manage his bullpen more effectively after pulling starter Matthew Boyd after just two innings.
“There were a couple times we had to go off the script, but at the same time, it was watch the game, see what the game is telling us to do,” Vogt remarked.
Thomas’ grand slam set a notable milestone as he became the first player in MLB history to hit a go-ahead grand slam in a winner-take-all game in front of a home crowd.
The game concluded with closer Emmanuel Clase securing a potential six-out save. After struggling in previous games, Clase redeemed himself by striking out Kerry Carpenter in an intense eight-pitch duel during the eighth inning, fired up by his desire to perform better.
“It went from 100 to 150,” Clase remarked through an interpreter, emphasizing his competitive spirit. “That’s the real Emmanuel Clase.”
He successfully closed out the ninth inning, wrapping up an exciting five-game series.
“This was an incredible series,” said Tigers manager AJ Hinch. “It’s great for baseball. It’s great for the AL Central.”
For Thomas, who overcame early-season struggles, the game was a transformative moment. His home run against one of the sport’s top pitchers has pushed his team within four wins of the World Series.
“Definitely had some struggles those first two weeks or maybe even the month,” Thomas acknowledged. “But I’m just thankful they kind of hung with me and let me get my feet under me and kept giving me at-bats. You just have to be thankful for that.”