The Detroit Tigers secured a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of their AL Division Series, taking a 2-1 lead in the matchup. Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson each contributed an RBI in the win, supported by a strong pitching performance from a total of six pitchers.
The Tigers, who have been on a hot streak in recent months, are now on the brink of advancing in the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Game 4 is set to take place at Comerica Park on Thursday night.
Cleveland struggled to generate offense, going scoreless for 20 consecutive innings after their initial strong showing in the series opener. Despite some solid hitting efforts, the Guardians left eight runners on base in Game 3.
Detroit's pitching staff, led by AL Cy Young Award favorite Tarik Skubal in Game 2, continued to stifle Cleveland's offense in Game 3. Manager A.J. Hinch strategically utilized multiple pitchers to keep the Guardians at bay.
The atmosphere at Comerica Park was electric, with a record-breaking crowd of 44,885 fans in attendance, showing strong support for the Tigers in their playoff run.
The Tigers' strong pitching was complemented by key offensive plays, including Greene's RBI single and Torkelson's RBI double. Despite Torkelson's previous postseason struggles, he came through with a crucial hit in the sixth inning.
Cleveland's pitchers, including starter Alex Cobb, put up a valiant effort to keep the team in the game, but the lack of offensive production proved to be their downfall. The Guardians went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, missing crucial opportunities to score.
Looking ahead to Game 4, Cleveland's Tanner Bibee is slated to start, while Detroit is yet to announce their starting pitcher, opting for a flexible pitching strategy for the crucial matchup.
Overall, the Tigers' strong pitching and timely hitting have put them in a favorable position to advance in the playoffs, while the Guardians will need to regroup and find ways to spark their offense to stay alive in the series.
