Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
DETROIT, October 7, 2024 ~ In the top of the ninth with two outs against the best closer in all of Major League Baseball, Emmanuel Clase, Detroit Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter sent every runner home with a dramatic three run home run to right field. With the unbelievable hit, the Tigers pulled out a 3-0 win in the second game of the American League Division Series over the Cleveland Guardians at their home field on Monday afternoon.
For most of the game, pitching dominated. Presumed AL Cy Young Tarik Skubal took the mound for Detroit, and was lights out for a total of seven innings. In those 21 scoreless appearances, Skubal casted eight strikeouts.
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Tarik Skubal's #postseason numbers through 2 starts:
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024
13 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 14 K pic.twitter.com/GnSbTgSl1P
(CONTINUED) Former Tiger pitcher Matthew Boyd started for Cleveland, having an effective day as well. The left hander almost got through five innings pitched with five strikeouts and no runs allowed.
Each team had chances throughout the night with runners in scoring position, but some big double plays, especially on the Detroit side, helped keep the scoreboard tied until the top of the final frame.
With two outs in the top of the final inning, catcher Jake Rogers and shortstop Trey Sweeney both found the bases with two singles against Clase, who is near the top of the league in almost every pitching category for a closer.
Following the two hits, Carpenter stepped to the plate against the right handed matchup, found an off-speed pitch, and carried it all the way out of the park.
Beau Brieske came into the game to record the final three outs for the Tigers, and did so with no issue.
With the series now tied at one apiece, Detroit will look to gain a step up on the Guardians with the next two games happening at Comerica Park. First pitch for Game Three is set for 3 p.m. on Wednesday.
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