The Cleveland Guardians entered Thursday’s Game 4 with their backs against the wall.
They were down 2-1 in the AL Division Series, and losing would mean they were eliminated.
But they showed character, courage, and grit and beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Thursday to tie the series and force a winner-takes-all Game 5 on Saturday.
Series goes on!#GuardsBall | #Postseason pic.twitter.com/bvRLL2gTcQ
— Cleveland Guardians On SI (@GuardiansOnSI) October 11, 2024
We had stated in this space that the Guards needed Jose Ramirez to show up, and he did just that with a go-ahead solo home run that broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth frame.
We had also written that the offense needed to show up and support the fine job of the Guardians pitching staff, and they did just that with five runs and 11 hits.
Everyone helped, and everyone was involved in bailing starter Tanner Bibee, who didn’t have his best stuff or command but battled to keep the Tigers at two runs in four frames.
The dagger for the Guardians was David Fry’s pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-out, two-run home run in the seventh inning to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead.
Cleveland added a fifth run on a brilliant squeeze play in the top of the ninth, to remind the world about ‘Guardians ball’s every now and then.
The Tigers scored one run off Emmanuel Clase in the bottom of the ninth, but that was all they could muster and ended up empty-handed.
To get to the AL Championship Series, the Guardians have one last obstacle to clear: Tarik Skubal and everything he represents.
If they can beat him this weekend, they will advance to the ALCS against the New York Yankees or the Kansas City Royals.
NEXT: Guardians Need Their Star Player To Show Up With The Season On The Line
