Guardians score, highlights vs. Detroit Tigers ALDS Game 4; Cleveland wins, force Game 5

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Guardians score, highlights vs. Detroit Tigers ALDS Game 4; Cleveland wins, force Game 5

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Fri, Oct 11, 2024 ·

9 min read

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DETROIT — It was win-and-go-home for the Guardians on Thursday evening.

Faced with a elimination Thursday, the Guardians pulled out a 5-4 win over the Tigers to send the best-of-five series back to Cleveland .

Coming off a 3-0 shutout loss in Game 3 of the American League Division Series , in which their scoreless streak extended to 20 innings, the Guardians scored right away. They then battled from there to force a decisive Game 5.

Here's how Game 4 unfolded through our live updates.

Guardians beat the Tigers to force ALDS Game 5

Emmanuel Clase secured the five-out save, and the Guardians win 5-4 in Game 4 to force a winner-take-all Game 5 Saturday at Progressive Field. Prior to its win Thursday, Cleveland had not won a postseason game while facing elimination since Game 6 of the 1997 World Series.

When is Game 5 in Guardians vs. Tigers ALDS?

The series returns to Cleveland for the winner-take-all Game 5 at 8:08 p.m. Saturday.

Tom Hamilton's radio calls in Game 4: 'Back. Track. Wall. Gone!': Hear Tom Hamilton's call on David Fry's HR in Guardians win

Oct 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio (4) celebrates after scoring a run in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers during game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images — Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio (4) celebrates after scoring a run in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 of the ALDS on Thursday in Detroit.

Justyn-Henry Malloy doubles off Emmanuel Clase to open ninth inning

Justyn-Henry Malloy doubled down the left-field line to begin the inning.

Parker Meadows followed with a groundout to the right side, which moved Malloy to third.

Jace Jung then hit another groundout to score Malloy to make it 5-4, but it went as the second out.

Oct 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians first base David Fry (6) bunts in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers during game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

David Fry adds to Guardians lead in ninth inning

With runners on the corners and one out, David Fry laid down a bunt down the first-base line ( Steven Kwan was being held on first, which left first baseman Matt Vierling too far away to field it).

Pitcher Will Vest had to get to it, and Brayan Rocchio beat the toss home with a nice slide at the plate.

It's 5-3 Guardians.

Oct 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase (48) reacts to a strike out in the in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers during game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Emmanuel Clase escapes jam; Guardians lead Tigers entering 9th inning

Emmanuel Clase escaped the scoring threat.

After a ground ball went as the second out, but also a play that put the go-ahead run in scoring position, Clase struck out Trey Sweeney to end the inning.

Clase smacked his glove as he walked off the mound. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt is fired up along the dugout.

Tigers put two runners on base against Tim Herrin ; Emmanuel Clase entering

Riley Greene led off the eighth with a single and with one out, Wenceel Perez singled as well to put two runners on base and the tying run in scoring position.

And that will prompt the Guardians to turn to Emmanuel Clase to try to record the final five outs.

Who's winning the Guardians-Tigers ALDS Game 4?

The Guardians twice nearly added on insurance run in the eighth but came up just short.

First, Will Brennan narrowly missed a home run, sending a ball to the wall in right field that went for a double. Andres Gimenez followed with a hard-hit ground ball to the right side that was fielded thanks to a terrific diving play by Colt Keith , who got up and made throw to save a run.

The Guardians lead 4-3 heading to the bottom of the eighth. Tim Herrin is entering the game, and Emmanuel Clase won't be far behind.

Oct 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians first base David Fry (6) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two run home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers during game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Guardians-Tigers score: David Fry hits pinch-hit home run to give Guardians lead

David Fry just took the biggest swing of the season for the Guardians.

Called on as a pinch-hitter with a runner on, Fry drilled a go-ahead, two-run home run to left field that has given the Guardians a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning.

In Game 3, the Guardians made similar pinch-hit decisions. They didn't work out, but the logic was sound as they tried to take advantage of high-leverage situations. It worked beautifully tonight.

That's the first pinch-hit home run to give Cleveland the lead in the postseason in club history.

Beau Brieske to face pinch-hitter David Fry

With two outs in the seventh, Steven Kwan singled up the middle. The Guardians announced David Fry would pinch-hit for Kyle Manzardo , which prompted the Tigers to call on right-hander Beau Brieske.

Wenceel Perez RBI single has Tigers ahead of Guardians in ALDS Game 4

With two outs, Wenceel Perez blooped a single into shallow left-center field to score a run and give the Tigers their first lead of the night.

Gaddis then hit Zach McKinstry to load the bases, but Trey Sweeney followed with an inning-ending groundout.

The Tigers lead the Guardians 3-2. Cleveland has nine outs to save their season.

Tigers second base Colt Keith sores a run against Guardians during the second inning Game 4 of ALDS at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

Hunter Gaddis entering in sixth inning

Cade Smith entered tonight with 10 batters faced and 10 recorded outs in this series.

In the sixth inning, he gave up a single to Kerry Carpenter and with one out walked Riley Greene to put two on — it's the first time Smith has looked human in this series. Hunter Gaddis is entering in a huge situation to face Colt Keith.

Cade Smith sits down the Tigers in order after relieving Tanner Bibee

Cade Smith is on a pretty unreal run. He entered the game for Bibee and sat down the first three hitters he faced.

The Guardians genuinely might have the two best relievers in baseball in the same bullpen.

Zach McKinstry home run ties it 2-2 in the fifth

One hitter into the fifth inning, Zach McKinstry matched Jose Ramirez 's home run with a solo shot of his own, an opposite field homer that just cleared the wall in left field.

Tanner Bibee looked perplexed as to how that one got out to the opposite field.

And that'll do it for Bibee's day. Cade Smith is entering the game following the home run.

It's tied 2-2. Twice, the Guardians have taken a one-run lead, and twice the Tigers have answered.

Oct 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians third base Jose Ramírez (11) celebrates after hitting a home run in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers during game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Jose Ramirez home run off Tyler Holton gives Guardians lead in ALDS Game 4

Jose Ramirez lined a solo home run off of Tigers reliever Tyler Holton to left field to give the Guardians a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning.

The Guardians have badly needed Ramirez to be more productive in this series. He entered that at-bat just 1-for-11, and the one hit was arguably an error that was later overturned into a hit. That ball was drilled with an exit velocity of 109.9 mph.

Tanner Bibee gets doubleplay to end fourth inning

Riley Greene led off the fourth with a single, but with one out, Spencer Torkelson grounded into an inning-ending 4-6-3 doubleplay.

Oct 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) pitches in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers during game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Reese Olson allows one run in first four innings

Reese Olson is through four innings with just the one run allowed. Brayan Rocchio was retired to end the fourth on a line drive to right field that was caught.

Olson has gone through the lineup twice, facing 18 batters. There's a good chance that his day is done with the top of the Guardians order due up in the fifth.

Oct 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas (8) hits a single in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers during game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Guardians-Tigers ALDS score: Game 4 tied 1-1 after three innings

The Guardians and Tigers remain tied 1-1 after the third. Bibee had an easier inning in the third, which was perhaps needed for him to settle in a bit with the Guardians bullpen active.

Reese Olson strikes out Will Brennan to end third inning

The Guardians are again putting plenty of runners on base, but they're not finding the timely hit to make it count.

Two singles in the third will go without any damage done after Olson struck out Will Brennan to end the inning with it still tied 1-1.

Oct 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians first base Josh Naylor (22) hits a single in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers during game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Tigers tie ALDS Game 4 against Guardians

The Tigers have tied it, but it might be a scenario that the Guardians would gladly accept given the circumstances.

After Detroit loaded the bases with nobody out, Trey Sweeney tied it 1-1 with a sacrifice fly to center field. Jake Rogers then lined a ball right at shortstop Brayan Rocchio, who was able to toss it to Andres Gimenez at second base for an easy — and fortunate for Cleveland — doubleplay.

It's tied 1-1 heading to the third inning.

Guardians-Tigers ALDS Game 4 update: Detroit loads the bases against Tanner Bibee

The Tigers have a golden scoring chance in the bottom of the second inning.

Two walks sandwiched around a single have loaded the bases with nobody out. Bibee has had to work a lot this inning, and is now up to 33 pitches for the game.

Trey Sweeney is up. Cade Smith is warming in the bullpen.

Guardians-Tigers score: Tanner Bibee pitches around leadoff double

Parker Meadows opened the bottom of the first with a broken-bat double to shallow right-center field, but he was stranded on second, as Tanner Bibee was able to recover to put down the Tigers' next three hitters in order.

The Guardians lead 1-0 through one inning.

Oct 10, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan (38) hits a single hits a single in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers during game four of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Lane Thomas RBI single off Reese Olson gives Guardians ALDS Game 4 lead over Tigers

The Guardians' scoreless streak is over, and Cleveland has an early lead in Game 4.

Steven Kwan and Kyle Manzardo opened the game with back-to-back singles off Tigers opener Reese Olson. Jose Ramirez popped out and Josh Naylor struck out, but Lane Thomas came through for the Guardians with a two-out RBI single to right field to make it 1-0.