Cleveland Guardians Fall to Detroit Tigers in ALDS Game 2

The Cleveland Guardians experienced a surprising loss during their 2024 American League Division Series matchup against the Detroit Tigers on Monday evening. After securing a victory in Game 1 with a dominant five-run first inning, the Guardians were defeated in Game 2 by a three-run homer during the ninth inning, tying the best-of-five series at one game apiece.

Detroit Tigers’ Kerry Carpenter was the key player in the decisive moment at Progressive Field, launching a 423-foot home run off Cleveland’s All-Star closer, Emmanuel Clase. This marked the first occasion in Clase’s career where he conceded a three-run home, a significant blemish as he had only allowed five earned runs throughout the entire season.

The game unfolded as a pitching duel, mainly featuring Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, who is a prominent candidate for the American League Cy Young Award, and Cleveland’s reliable bullpen. The contest ultimately swung in the favor of the Tigers due to Carpenter’s ninth-inning swing.

Prior to the ninth inning, both teams struggled to score. Skubal’s performance was pivotal, keeping Cleveland scoreless through seven innings, recording impressive stats that include 12 straight outs and seven strikeouts. His exit for Will Vest was notable, prompting questions about manager A.J. Hinch‘s decision.

Despite Cleveland’s attempts, including a stellar defensive play from Steven Kwan in the outfield, the Guardians could not capitalize on scoring opportunities. Moments of tension arose as Matthew Boyd, who replaced Tarik Skubal, navigated through sticky situations, preserving the scoreless status.

For the Guardians, players such as Brayan Rocchio and Steven Kwan effectively placed runners in prime scoring positions, but double plays from Tarik Skubal kept the Tigers from faltering under pressure. Cade Smith and Tim Herrin displayed formidable pitching from the bullpen, maintaining a tight scoreline throughout early innings.

Moving forward, the Guardians will aim for improved offensive execution as the series continues, preventing further late-inning dramas that have proven costly in this tightly contested ALDS matchup against the Tigers.