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Takeaways from AL Wild Card Series Game 1 as Guardians lose to Skubal, Tigers
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- Takeaways from AL Wild Card Series Game 1 as Guardians lose to Skubal, Tigers
Editor's note: Follow Guardians vs. Tigers live updates and highlights from Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series .
CLEVELAND — The Guardians fell 2-1 to the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series on Sept. 30 at Progressive Field.
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As a result, the AL Central Division champion Guardians face a 1-0 deficit in the best-of-three series. They will need to win Game 2 to force Game 3, or Cleveland's season will end with a quick first-round sweep.
Here are Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich's instant takeaways from Game 1, with Game 2 looming Oct. 1.
MLB playoffs: Guardians vs Tigers score today. Game 1 reap
Guardians vs Tigers: Ryan Lewis' instant Game 1 takeaway
Gavin Williams was absolutely terrific, but the margin for error with Tarik Skubal on the mound is extremely thin. They can live by "Guards Ball" at times, but it does require every element of it to be working, and that includes their defense. The lineup will have to rebound to save their season tomorrow, and they'll have to avoid any more costly mistakes in the field.
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Guardians vs Tigers: Nate Ulrich's instant Game 1 takeaway
The Guardians had too many self-inflicted mistakes in Game 1 to conquer Skubal and the Tigers. Errors by right fielder Johnathan Rodriguez in the first inning and first baseman Jhonkensy Noel in the seventh inning led to two unearned runs for the Tigers. Williams had a stellar outing (six innings, five hits, one walk and zero earned runs allowed with eight strikeouts). However, Williams didn't receive the requisite defensive support to win a duel against Skubal (7⅔ innings, three hits, three walks and one earned run allowed with 14 strikeouts). Then in the bottom of the ninth inning, elite baserunner Jose Ramirez was caught in a rundown between third base and home plate for the second-to-last out of the game.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Takeaways after Guardians lose Game 1 of wild card against Tigers
