Cleveland's Lane Thomas blasts grand slam off AL Cy Young frontrunner Tarik Skubal in decisive Game 5
The magic has run out for the Detroit Tigers, as the Cleveland Guardians took the decisive Game 5 of their American League Division Series (ALDS) bout by a score of 7-3 on Saturday night at Progressive Field.
The Guardians will now advance to the American League Championship Series (ALCS) for the first time since 2016, where they will face the New York Yankees in a highly anticipated rematch.
Guardians Punch Ticket to ALCS with 7-3 Victory Over Tigers
After a scoreless four innings, the Tigers drew first blood in the fifth when Kerry Carpenter's RBI single plated Trey Sweeney. However, Cleveland responded swiftly in the bottom of the inning, as Tarik Skubal's Cy Young Award hopes took a hit.
With the bases loaded and one out, Skubal hit Jose Ramirez to bring home a run. Then, on the very next pitch, he served up a monstrous grand slam to Lane Thomas, giving the Guardians a commanding 5-1 lead. It was the first earned run Skubal had allowed since September 18.
Guardians Punch Ticket to ALCS with 7-3 Victory Over Tigers
Determined to stay alive, the Tigers did not go down without a fight. Jake Rogers drove in a run with a single in the sixth, but Carpenter struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning, squandering a golden opportunity.
Colt Keith's RBI double in the seventh made it a 5-3 game, but Cleveland regained their two-run cushion when Thomas knocked in another run with a single in the bottom half of the inning. Brayan Rocchio added an insurance run with a single of his own in the eighth, giving the Guardians a comfortable 7-3 lead.
Guardians Punch Ticket to ALCS with 7-3 Victory Over Tigers
Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland's dominant closer, entered the game in the eighth inning and shut down the Tigers effortlessly, securing the final six outs. The Guardians are now an impressive 76-2 this season when leading after six innings, including the postseason.
This will be the fourth time the Yankees and Guardians have met in the postseason since 2017, with the Bronx Bombers holding a 3-0 advantage in those matchups. The teams last faced off in the ALDS in 2022, with New York prevailing in four games.
The ALCS is set to begin on Monday night in the Bronx, with Game 1 scheduled for 7:37 p.m. ET. The Guardians will aim to overcome their past failures against the Yankees and book a ticket to the World Series for the first time since 2016.
