Kerry Carpenter delivered a dramatic, three-run homer off Cleveland’s All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning, propelling the Detroit Tigers to a 3-0 victory over the Guardians in Game 2 of the AL Division Series on Monday. The Tigers’ win evened the best-of-five series at one game apiece, swinging momentum as they prepare to head home for Games 3 and 4 in Detroit.
Carpenter’s blast came with two outs, following back-to-back singles from Jake Rogers and Trey Sweeney. Entering the game as a pinch-hitter an inning earlier, Carpenter connected on Clase’s third consecutive slider, sending a 423-foot shot into the right-field seats. The crowd at Cleveland’s Progressive Field fell silent as the Tigers celebrated their late-inning breakthrough.
The homer marked the first runs of the series for Detroit, a team that has made a habit of finding ways to win during their impressive late-season surge. After a 31-13 record since August 11, the Tigers secured a Wild Card spot and upset the AL West champion Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series. Now, they’ve made another statement in the ALDS, taking down a formidable closer in Clase, who hadn’t allowed a run since August 30 and led the American League with 47 saves.
Clase, known for his dominance throughout the 2024 season, hadn’t blown a save since May and was appearing in only his second multi-inning outing of the year. He initially took the mound in the eighth to protect a scoreless tie but could not escape the ninth unscathed.
Detroit’s ninth-inning fireworks overshadowed another stellar performance from their ace, Tarik Skubal. The left-hander continued his postseason mastery, tossing seven scoreless innings and adding to his total of 13 shutout innings this October. Skubal allowed only three hits while striking out eight, including dominating Cleveland’s lineup through the first 4 1/3 innings. Josh Naylor’s fifth-inning double broke up Skubal’s no-hit bid, and he followed it by hitting rookie Jhonkensy Noel, but the Guardians failed to capitalize.
Skubal’s effort, combined with a clutch bullpen performance, kept the Guardians at bay. Will Vest earned the win after pitching a clean eighth inning, and Beau Brieske closed out the ninth for the save. Skubal was finishing his postgame workout when he heard the cheers from Detroit’s dugout as Carpenter’s homer cleared the fence.
The Tigers now head back to Comerica Park with renewed confidence, knowing they’ve taken down Cleveland’s top closer and shifted the series in their favor. Detroit’s pitching staff has set the tone, allowing just three runs over the first two games. Now, with a rejuvenated offense led by Carpenter, they will look to seize control of the series in front of their home crowd.
Detroit’s journey this season has been characterized by resilience and timely contributions. With their backs against the wall in August, they surged into the postseason, and after toppling Houston in the Wild Card Series, they have shown no fear against Cleveland. They return home with a chance to advance to the AL Championship Series, a feat that seemed improbable just two months ago.
For the Guardians, the loss stings as they missed an opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. Clase’s uncharacteristic lapse opened the door for Detroit, and now Cleveland will need to regroup quickly before facing a raucous crowd in Detroit. Game 3 promises to be a pivotal battle in this tightly contested ALDS, with both teams eyeing a path to the next round.
