CLEVELAND — Guardians center fielder Lane Thomas knows that opportunities like the one he faced in Game 5 of the AL Division Series are rare, especially against a pitcher of Tarik Skubal’s caliber from the Tigers. Skubal had shutdown the Cleveland lineup for much of the game, but things changed in the fifth inning. After hitting Jose Ramirez with a pitch, which allowed the tying run to score, Thomas found himself stepping up with the bases loaded.
The atmosphere at Progressive Field shifted as the fans, who had been quiet, began to buzz in anticipation. In a moment that Thomas described as a childhood dream, he connected with a 97 mph fastball from Skubal, sending the ball 396 feet to left field for a grand slam. “You dream of at-bats like that as a little 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 the game. His homer put the Guardians ahead 5-1 in what turned into a 7-3 victory. Thomas became just the fourth player in MLB postseason history to hit a go-ahead grand slam in a winner-take-all game.
Cleveland’s win secured their place in the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees, and teammates celebrated Thomas’s pivotal performance amid a joyful clubhouse gathering. “He’s a great ballplayer,” said Josh Naylor, who praised Thomas, acquired from the Nationals in a July trade. Ramirez added, “When I got hit, I just knew he would come through. I knew he would.”
The grand slam surpassing his previous home run in Game 1 of the series further spotlighted Thomas as the series hero. His performance marks a significant turnaround from his early struggles, where he managed just a .111 batting average and a .197 on-base percentage 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.
Hitting coach Chris Valaika acknowledged the evolution Thomas underwent after joining the team, emphasizing that he had to find his rhythm before shining on such a big stage. Facing Skubal, who had pitched 17 consecutive scoreless postseason innings until then, was a daunting task. Valaika reminded the hitters to be ready for the fastball, and Thomas delivered, helping manager Stephen Vogt manage his bullpen with less strain after removing starter Matthew Boyd early.
Thomas’s pivotal home run set up closer Emmanuel Clase to potentially earn a six-out save. After a tough outing in Game 2 against the Tigers, Clase aimed for redemption. He struck out Kerry Carpenter following an intense eight-pitch standoff before closing out the game in the ninth inning. “This was an incredible series,” reflected Tigers manager AJ Hinch. “It’s great for baseball. It’s great for the AL Central.”
As Cleveland moves ahead with just four wins needed to reach the World Series, Lane Thomas celebrated an impressive comeback after facing early challenges. “Definitely had some struggles those first two weeks, or maybe even the month,” he commented. “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.”