Imagine only being one out away from snapping a 9-game losing streak only to give up six runs in the 10th inning and lose 7-2.
That’s exactly what happened Sunday as the Tigers capitalized on an Emmanuel Clase wild pitch in the 9th scoring Zach McKinstry opening up a massive 10th to send the Tigers to the weekend sweep of the Guardians while Cleveland dropped their 10th straight.
Trey Sweeney and Riley Greene opened up the lead for Detroit in the 10th as the Tigers managed not to waste a Tarik Skubal gem. The reigning AL Cy Young winner allowed three hits in seven innings and secured his sixth game of the season where he managed to accumulate double-digit strikeouts with 10.
• Final Score: Tigers 7, Guardians 2 (10 innings)
• Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland
• Key Moments:
• Pitching: Tarik Skubal dominated for the Tigers, throwing 7.0 innings, allowing no earned runs, no walks, and striking out 10. Cleveland’s starter struggled, and their bullpen couldn’t contain Detroit’s late surge.
• 10th Inning Offense: Trey Sweeney’s three-run homer and Riley Greene’s two-run homer fueled a six-run 10th inning for the Tigers, breaking a 1-1 tie. Zach McKinstry (stolen base, run scored), Javier Báez (two hits, run scored), and Matt Vierling (double, RBI, walk, run scored) also contributed significantly.
• Relief Effort: Lee pitched 1.2 scoreless innings to secure the win for Detroit.
• Impact: The Tigers (57-34) completed a three-game sweep over the Guardians (40-48), who extended their losing streak to 10 games. This win widened Detroit’s lead in the AL Central.