Carpenter’s Heroics Help Detroit Tigers Stuff Guardians

Kerry Carpenter came up in the top of the ninth inning with two Detroit Tigers teammates on base, facing Cleveland ace reliever Emmanuel Clase. Down two strikes, Carpenter launched a Clase pitch over the right-field wall for a 3-0 Detroit victory. Carpenter’s clutch at-bat helped the Tigers even up their American League Divisional Series playoff at 1-1 with Cleveland.

Progressive Field was rocking with plenty of Cleveland fans. They fully expected Clase, an All-Star pitcher this season, to shut down Detroit’s offense. Clase has been clutch for Guardians manager Stephen Vogt all season long. So, to see him give up Carpenter’s blast late in Monday’s game sent Guardians fans home disappointed.

Detroit Tigers Spoil Clase’s Outing

“Emmanuel has been locked down all year,” Vogt said after the game, The Associated Press reported. “He’s been nearly perfect. He’s human, too. These things are going to happen, and it’s unfortunate the timing of when it did, but at the same time he’s going to have the ball in the ninth again. This is the best closer in the game for a reason, and they just happened to get him tonight.”

Clase, up until Monday’s loss, had not given up a single run in any outing since Aug. 30. He led the AL in saves this season with 47. Also, Clase has not blown a save opportunity since May. This was just the second multi-inning appearance for Clase over this season.

9th inning? Off Clase?

Kerry Carpenter is HIM. 🐅

(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/GplRe8UA7L

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 7, 2024

Detroit Tigers ace starter Tarik Skubal was lights out once again, not seemingly scared to be on the big stage this playoff season. Skubal went seven innings, allowing three hits while striking out eight Cleveland Guardians hitters. Reliever Will Vest pitched the eighth inning and picked up the ALDS Game 2 win. Beau Briske recorded three straight outs in the ninth inning for a save.

Cleveland’s Josh Naylor doubled with one out in the fifth inning for the Guardians’ first hit. Jhonkensy Noel reached first base after Skubal nailed him on his left hand. But Andrés Giménez grounded into an inning-ending double play. That squashed any possible Guardians’ offense and also saw Skubal celebrate the double play while bounding off the mound.

Tarik Skubal Lights Out Once Again

Seeing Skubal perform excellently in the AL postseason has been a welcome surprise for Detroit and its manager, A.J. Hinch. Skubal totally owned the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card series. The fiery left-hander, who led the AL in wins, earned-run average, and strikeouts this season, simply outmatched Cleveland hitters. Skubal now has 13 postseason strikeouts to his name.

In the top of the ninth, Jake Rogers and Trey Sweeney connected for two-out singles for the Detroit Tigers. Carpenter, who had entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, came up with KISS’ legendary song Detroit Rock City probably ringing in his ears. Carpenter squared up on a Clase slider, the third straight time he’d thrown the Tigers’ hitter one in the at-bat.

Carpenter didn’t miss it one bit, sending the ball 423 feet out of the park. As he stepped on home plate, Carpenter let out a scream and cheered on his already excited Detroit Tigers teammates.

“How about those three two-out hits?” Hinch said.

Ahead of Monday’s game, Tyler Freeman was replaced on Cleveland’s roster after he strained an oblique while taking a swing in a simulated game on Sunday. Freeman was replaced by rookie Ángel Martínez on the roster.

As for the Game 3 starting pitchers, look for Cleveland right-hander Alex Cobb to get the ball. It will be his first start for the Guardians since Sept. 1. Cobb has been dealing with a middle finger blister, making only three regular-season starts after coming over from the San Francisco Giants in a July trade. Cobb, though, does have some postseason experience. He started Game 3 in the 2013 ALDS for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Detroit Tigers have not named a starting pitcher for Game 3. Don’t be surprised if Hinch uses his “pitching by committee” plan, getting his starter to go three hitters or just one inning. This has been a successful way for the Detroit Tigers to throw opposing hitters off-balance all season long. Hinch used this pitching pattern against the Astros and they couldn’t solve the riddle at all. Look for Cleveland to try and possibly take early at-bat swings against these Detroit pitchers.

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