For the first time since 2016, the Cleveland Guardians are returning to the American League Championship Series.
Cleveland tagged Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal for five runs in the fifth inning, as Lane Thomas provided the big blow with a grand slam to spark a 7-3 win in Game 5 on Saturday.
Skubal had been untouchable all post-season, but the Guardians were able to string together three singles and push a run across with a hit-by-pitch before Thomas took the lead with a single swing.
The loss marks the end of the Tigers’ miracle run. Detroit was nearly 10 games out of the post-season race and below .500 in early August before flipping the switch to claim the final wild-card spot in the American League.
Detroit went on to snap the Houston Astros’ streak of seven straight appearances in the ALCS and pushed the AL Central champion Guardians to the brink by taking a 2-1 lead in the ALDS.
The Guardians will advance to face the New York Yankees after their offence stepped up to come back in Games 4 and 5 and beat a gritty Tigers squad.
More to come.
