Scoring Decision Revised in Guardians’ Victory Over Tigers in ALDS Game 1

The initial scoring decision in the Detroit Tigers’ Game 1 loss of the American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Cleveland Guardians was revised following a review on Sunday. The amendment changed a ruling from an error by Tigers’ third baseman Zach McKinstry to a double credited to Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez.

The incident occurred during the first inning when Ramirez hit a bad-hop grounder to McKinstry, which ultimately resulted in a crucial play for the Guardians, paving the way for five runs. The Guardians went on to secure a 7-0 victory in the opening matchup of the best-of-five series. The alteration in the scoring attributes a double and an RBI to Ramirez, in addition to adding an earned run against Detroit’s pitcher Tyler Holton.

The game’s scoring initially credited Ramirez with reaching base on a fielder’s choice, with McKinstry charged an error for failing to force an out at third base. This adjustment is significant for pitching statistics, as Holton, who was responsible for conceding four runs without recording an out, now has an extra earned run on his record.

Zach McKinstry addressed the situation post-game, admitting responsibility for the miscue but indicating the field conditions may have played a role, especially concerning the infield dirt. “They watered the field when we came in to take ground balls, but they didn’t water it before the game,” McKinstry elaborated. “It took a weird hop off the dirt on the first kick. You hope to make that play, but I didn’t, and we ended up losing the game because of it.”

The error—or more accurately, Ramirez’s double—was pivotal and set the stage for a follow-up RBI single by Josh Naylor. Subsequently, when Tigers’ manager A.J. Hinch brought in right-hander Reese Olson, Lane Thomas hit Olson’s first pitch for a home run, expanding the Guardians’ advantage to 5-0.

Although it remains uncertain whether Ramirez personally sought the review, reviews initiated by players are commonplace, with changes regularly implemented following evaluations by a dedicated committee. The committee’s reassessments are pivotal for correcting scoring discrepancies during games. The Guardians and the Tigers were scheduled to resume their postseason contest with Game 2 on Monday at 4:08 p.m. at Progressive Field in Cleveland.