Cleveland Defeats Tigers 7-3, Advances to ALCS Against Yankees \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Lane Thomas’ grand slam powered the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-3 win over the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the AL Division Series. Cleveland advanced to the ALCS, where they’ll face the New York Yankees for the seventh time in postseason history. Thomas drove in five runs as the Guardians overcame a tough start from Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal, ending his scoreless streak and securing their first ALCS appearance since 2016.
Guardians Beat Tigers, Set to Face Yankees: Quick Looks
- Thomas Shines: Lane Thomas hit a grand slam and had five RBIs, leading Cleveland to victory.
- Cleveland to Face Yankees: The Guardians will face the New York Yankees in the ALCS, their seventh postseason meeting.
- Skubal’s Struggles: Detroit ace Tarik Skubal gave up five runs after 24 consecutive scoreless innings.
- Bullpen Saves the Day: Cleveland’s bullpen held strong despite late threats from Detroit, with Emmanuel Clase closing it out.
- Detroit’s Season Ends: The Tigers’ postseason push came to an end after a strong late-season surge and wild-card sweep.
Deep Look
Thomas, who drove in five runs on the day, led the offensive charge for Cleveland. His grand slam in the fifth inning was the decisive blow, turning the tide against Skubal, who had been nearly untouchable up to that point in the postseason. The Tigers’ left-hander entered the game with 17 scoreless innings this postseason and had not allowed a run in 24 consecutive frames. However, the Guardians found a way to crack his dominance, sending five runs across the plate in a single inning to take control of the game.
Thomas’ Heroics and “Guards Ball”
The game’s pivotal moment came in the fifth inning when Cleveland showcased its scrappy, opportunistic style of play, known affectionately as “Guards Ball.” The Guardians loaded the bases with a string of singles, including an infield roller, and then forced in a run when Skubal hit All-Star José Ramírez on the hand. That set the stage for Thomas, who had already made a mark earlier in the series with a three-run homer in Cleveland’s Game 1 victory.
Thomas wasted no time, launching Skubal’s first pitch just over the 19-foot-high wall in left-center for a grand slam. The ballpark erupted as the red-clad Cleveland faithful celebrated what would prove to be the game-winning moment. Thomas, who struggled initially after joining the Guardians in a July trade from Washington, found redemption with his bat, capping off a breakout postseason performance.
“Lane has really found his groove,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt after the game. “He’s a competitor, and today he showed what he’s capable of.”
Tigers Fight Back, but Cleveland’s Bullpen Prevails
Despite the blow, the Tigers didn’t go down quietly. Detroit struck back in the sixth inning, scoring a run on a single by Jake Rogers and loading the bases with two outs. The threat was real, but Cleveland’s Hunter Gaddis came through, striking out Kerry Carpenter to end the inning and preserve the Guardians’ lead. Carpenter had been the hero of Game 2 with a dramatic three-run homer, but he couldn’t replicate the magic this time.
Thomas added an RBI single in the eighth to extend Cleveland’s lead to 6-3, giving the team some breathing room. From there, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt turned to his bullpen ace, closer Emmanuel Clase, to finish the job. Clase, who led the AL in saves, was electric, throwing one 100 mph fastball after another. He retired the final six batters he faced, ensuring Cleveland’s victory and securing their place in the ALCS.
Skubal’s Struggles and Detroit’s Season Ends
Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award, suffered his first loss since August 2, marking a tough end to what had been a stellar postseason run. The five runs he allowed in the fifth inning tied his worst performance of 2024. After dominating throughout the regular season and postseason, Skubal was finally bested by Cleveland’s persistence and timely hitting.
The loss was a heartbreaking end to Detroit’s impressive late-season resurgence. After struggling for much of the year, the Tigers had turned their season around with a 31-13 run after August 11, earning a wild-card berth. They then swept the Houston Astros in the wild-card round and seemed poised to challenge Cleveland in the ALDS. However, their push for a deep playoff run fell short, as Cleveland proved too much to handle.
“It’s tough,” said Detroit manager A.J. Hinch. “We made a great run, and I’m proud of our guys. But sometimes, the other team just executes better.”
The Tigers’ Cinderella story came to an end, but the future looks bright for a team that energized its fan base with a strong finish and postseason berth.
Guardians Move Forward, Eyeing Yankees Showdown
With the win, Cleveland advances to face the New York Yankees in the ALCS, renewing a postseason rivalry that has seen six previous matchups. The last time the two teams met was in the 2022 ALDS, which the Yankees won in five games. Game 1 of the ALCS is set for Monday in the Bronx.
For the Guardians, the trip to the ALCS marks their first appearance in the series since 2016. Led by first-year manager Stephen Vogt, Cleveland has been one of the surprise teams of the 2024 season, winning the AL Central and defying expectations under the leadership of the former journeyman catcher.
“We weren’t supposed to be here, but here we are,” Vogt said confidently before Game 5. “And we’re not done yet.”
Trainer’s Room
Tigers: Kerry Carpenter, who was dealing with a hamstring injury suffered in Game 4, wasn’t in the starting lineup but came in as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning, delivering a single to drive in Trey Sweeney for Detroit’s first run.
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