CLEVELAND — In a tense match with everything on the line, the Detroit Tigers secured a thrilling 3-0 victory against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 2 of the ALDS on Monday afternoon at Progressive Field.
The decisive moment came in the eighth inning with Kerry Carpenter at the plate, facing Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. With two outs and two runners on base, Carpenter launched a slider into right field, sending it 423 feet for a three-run homer that sealed the win for the Tigers.
The game was filled with exciting moments, including an impressive double play by rookie players on the Tigers and a controversial diving catch by Cleveland’s left fielder Steven Kwan that had fans questioning whether it was a legit catch. Ultimately, the game was highlighted by outstanding pitching performances.
Tigers’ Tarik Skubal was exceptional, throwing seven scoreless innings and striking out eight while allowing just three hits. He nearly achieved a perfect game, retiring 13 consecutive batters before allowing a hit in the fifth inning. His remarkable performance puts him in an elite category, as he has now pitched 13 scoreless innings in his first two postseason starts. Upon leaving the mound, he received accolades from manager A.J. Hinch.
Cleveland’s pitchers also showed up well, with former Tiger Matthew Boyd striking out five over 4⅔ innings and the Guardians’ bullpen holding strong until Carpenter’s late-game heroics.
With both teams enjoying a day off on Tuesday, they will return for Game 3 on Wednesday at Comerica Park in Detroit at 3:08 p.m. ET. Game 4 is scheduled for Thursday, with a potential Game 5 on Saturday in Cleveland.
In terms of Skubal’s performance, he was spectacular through the early innings, allowing no hits or runs until a slip-up against Josh Naylor led to a double that broke up his perfect game. Despite hitting Jhonkensy Noel with a pitch afterward and putting runners on base, Skubal managed to escape trouble thanks to a double play.
The Tigers faced several missed chances throughout the game, including a promising fourth inning where Wenceel Perez’s double and a flyout from Spencer Torkelson put them in position to score, only to see Parker Meadows strike out. Another opportunity came in the eighth inning where Matt Vierling doubled and Greene was intentionally walked. Perez’s subsequent line drive was tragically caught by Kwan after a review confirmed the catch was valid.
While baseball emphasizes teamwork, individual battles were captivating, especially the encounters between Skubal and star infielder Jose Ramirez, who led the Guardians in multiple offensive categories. Skubal effectively struck out Ramirez each time they faced off, showcasing his ability to dominate essential matchups.