CLEVELAND — The Guardians kicked off their 2024 postseason with an impressive victory but faced a setback on Monday night.
After clinching Game 1 of the American League Division Series with a decisive five-run first inning, the Guardians experienced a sudden defeat in Game 2. The game was decided in the ninth inning when the Tigers hit a three-run homer off Cleveland’s All-Star closer, Emmanuel Clase, ending in a 3-0 victory for Detroit. The series is now tied at one game each in the best-of-five contest.
The matchup featured a pitching duel between Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, a strong contender for the AL Cy Young Award, and Matthew Boyd, who previously played for the Tigers. Despite outstanding performances from both teams’ bullpens, the game took a dramatic turn when Kerry Carpenter connected for a three-run homer in the final inning.
The pivotal moments of the game included:
– Kerry Carpenter’s game-changing three-run home run in the ninth inning stunned the crowd at Progressive Field. Hitting a slider from Clase, Carpenter launched the ball 423 feet, marking the first time Clase has allowed a three-run home run in his career and resulting in three earned runs in a single swing after allowing only five all season.
– Earlier in the game, a remarkable catch by Steven Kwan helped the Guardians maintain their chances. Kwan’s diving catch in left field denied the Tigers a potential go-ahead run, which might have shifted the momentum.
– Both teams battled intensely, with Skubal exiting after seven innings and Hunter Gaddis taking the mound for the Guardians.
– The game remained a tightly contested pitchers’ duel. As tensions rose, both teams had their opportunities to score, but pitching remained dominant through several innings.
As the series shifts focus, the Guardians will look to regroup and reclaim the advantage in the third game against the Tigers.