At long last, it happened: the Cleveland Guardians beat Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers 7-3 in Game 5 of the American League Division Series, moving on to the AL Championship where they will face the New York Yankees starting on Monday.
Skubal entered the game with 13 scoreless innings in the 2024 MLB playoffs, six against the Houston Astros and seven vs. the Guardians in Game 2.
On Saturday, however, the Guards finally came through against the tough lefty and scored five runs off him in six innings.
The Tigers actually went ahead in the scoreboard 1-0 in the top of the fifth, but Cleveland would break through in the bottom of that inning.
Jose Ramirez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in the tying run, and then the unexpected happened:
LANE THOMAS. GRAND SLAM. @CLEGUARDIANS ON TOP.#ALDS pic.twitter.com/9bxvHY59T9
— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024
Trade acquisition Lane Thomas finally vindicated the entire Guardians offense with a grand slam that turned a 1-1 tie into a 5-1 lead that Cleveland would not relinquish.
It was exciting and thrilling to watch the crowd go crazy with Thomas’ game-changing blast.
It was, truly, series-changing.
It was his second home run of the series, and the Guardians won both games in which he went yard.
Matt Boyd contributed two scoreless frames and then Cleveland unleashed their incredible bullpen on the Tigers.
Cade Smith, Erik Sabrowski, Andrew Walters, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, Eli Morgan and Emmanuel Clase combined to toss seven innings of three runs, which considering the circumstances was all they needed to advance.
Now, the Guards are moving on to face the Yankees in what is shaping up to be an incredible ALCS.
NEXT: Top Tigers Slugger Isn't In Game 5 Lineup Vs. Guardians
