CLEVELAND, Ohio – Did you really think the Guardians would win the first game of these best-of-three wild card playoffs?
No disrespect to the Guardians.
But answer this question: When did anything come easy for this team in 2025?
Was it frustrating to lose 2-1 to Detroit Tuesday? Yes.
Was it a surprise? Not really.
You know what kind of season this has been for Cleveland and its fans …
The more improbable …
The more agonizing …
The more it’s Guards Ball.
“Our backs have been against the wall for three months,” said Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt. “What’s one more day?”
Yes, that’s life in Guards Land.
Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
It’s not over
Cleveland now has to win the next two games to capture this series. The good news is they won’t have to face the incredible Tarik Skubal again.
The Guardians beat the Tigers twice within six days in the middle of September with their Cy Young Award winner on the mound. But in those games, Cleveland scored two earned runs in 12 innings.
Tuesday, it was seven innings, one run and 14 strikeouts for the lefty who was pumping 100 mph fastball even after he passed 100 pitches in the eighth inning.
“I don’t know how anybody scores off him,” said Vogt. “He was absolutely outstanding. Took a little bit of Guards Ball turmoil just to get one.”
That happened in the fourth inning. The Guardians had two hits that never left the infield. That’s how they scored their only run.
The question is the impact of this game on both teams.
The Tigers stumbled and staggered into the playoffs, blowing a 15 ½ game lead to Cleveland in the Central Division.
“All that matters is we’re here,” said Skubal.
But all that matters is Cleveland is here, too.
If only ….
The Guardians had chances to win.
“If anyone is new to Tigers/Guardians, this is what it looks like,” said Detroit manager A.J. Hinch.
It looked like in the first inning when Detroit’s Kerry Carpenter singled to right field. Cleveland’s Johnathan Rodriguez tried to pick up the ball after a few bounces. He almost wrestled the ball to the ground. It was an error, allowing Carpenter to go to second base. He scored on Spencer Torkelson’s single.
When you make a mistake in a game like this, you sense it could haunt you. That was my feeling after the Rodriguez error.
Then the Guards did tie the game when Angel Martinez scored from second base on a high chop over the pitcher’s mound by Gabriel Arias.
That made the score 1-1.
Gavin Williams was matching Skubal nearly pitch for pitch, flame for flame.
Williams was uncorking 98 mph fastballs, Skubal at 100 mph. Both guys unleashed sizzling and sinking breaking balls.
How the game was lost
In the seventh inning, Detroit’s Riley Greene led off with a double.
Wenceel Perez hit a grounder that bounced off the glove of first baseman Jhonkensy Noel. It was picked up by Brayan Rocchio at second. He threw to Noel, and Big Christmas delivered a gift to Detroit.
Somehow, his feet were tangled up and he didn’t have a foot on the bag. Perez was safe. Greene went to third.
Then Detroit went Guards Ball, scoring Greene on a squeeze bunt by Zach McKinstry – a guy who had only one sacrifice bunt all season.
“It was a perfect play,” said Vogt. “We knew it was coming. He laid down a perfect bunt.”
But Cleveland’s defense wasn’t … well … even close to perfect.
The error by Rodriguez in right field set up Detroit’s first run.
The error by Noel helped Detroit score the winning run.
Then came the ninth inning
Jose Ramirez led off with an infield hit to short. Detroit’s Javier Baez tried to throw out Ramirez, but bounced the ball to first base and it rolled down the right field line.
The relentless Ramirez rolled all the way to third.
Ramirez on third. No one out. Score was 2-1. Skubal had been relieved by Will Vest.
All set up for a little more Guards Ball to tie the game.
George Valera then struck out. Ramirez kept edging down the third base line, seeking any opportunity to score.
Kyle Manzardo then hit a high chop that was fielded by the pitcher.
For Cleveland, it was a “go on contact play” on anything hit on the ground.
Ramirez went … he was tagged in a rundown.
Ball game.
“Crazy stuff happens when we play the Guardians,” said Detroit’s Hinch. “They just scratch and claw and keep coming after you.”
Only this time, they couldn’t catch the tiger by the tail.
“We’re going to bounce back,” said Vogt. “We’ve done it all year. We love having our backs to the wall.”
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