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AJ Hinch gets 100% real on ‘tough day’ in Game 2 vs. Guardians
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- AJ Hinch gets 100% real on ‘tough day’ in Game 2 vs. Guardians
The post AJ Hinch gets 100% real on 'tough day' in Game 2 vs. Guardians appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Cleveland Guardians forced a decisive Game 3 with a clutch 6-1 win over the Detroit Tigers Wednesday. Cleveland is just the third team to even a Wild Card Series since MLB switched to the current best-of-three format in 2022.
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Following the defeat, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch attempted to make sense of his team's disappointing performance .
"It was a tough day. Obviously, they made the most of their opportunities and we left 15 guys on. So, I think that paints the picture that it was today. It was a hard-fought game and the score doesn't really indicate how the game was," Hinch said, per MLB Network.
"We kept giving ourselves a chance. And the last at-bat was ending poorly a lot of times, with the punch-outs. It's not easy. They've got good pitching. We knew they were going to go to their 'pen early… which is why we were aggressive," Hinch added. " Cade Smith is tough at the back. So, gotta take your opportunities when you can. Especially against a team who can pitch."
Tigers face winner-take-all Game 3 against Guardians
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Tigers did have opportunities on Wednesday. But the team went just 1-15 with runners in scoring position. As Hinch alluded to in his post-game presser, Detroit batters struck out seven times with runners in scoring position.
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Javier Baez delivered the Tigers' sole RBI. The veteran utility man slapped a single to center with the bases loaded in the fourth. But Zach McKinstry was thrown out at third base, ending the inning.
Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the Wild Card Series after Tarik Skubal's dominant 14-strikeout performance Tuesday. But the Tigers couldn't put Cleveland away and now face a winner-take-all Game 3.
Attempting to fend off the Guardians is becoming an all-too familiar feeling for Tigers fans. Detroit was unable to put Cleveland away during the regular season despite having a commanding 15.5-game lead over the team in July.
The Tigers' historic collapse forced Detroit to settle for a Wild Card berth while the Guardians won the AL Central.
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Still, the Tigers are just a win away from reaching the ALDS. And the team received good news as Spencer Torkelson is expected to play in the ALWC finale. Detroit's first baseman needed X-rays after fouling a ball off his right foot in the fourth inning. However, the results were negative.
Related: Spencer Torkelson injury update for do-or-die Game 3 vs. Guardians
Related: Guardians make rare history by forcing Game 3 vs. Tigers
