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Guardians make rare history by forcing Game 3 vs. Tigers
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- Guardians make rare history by forcing Game 3 vs. Tigers
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The Cleveland Guardians entered Game 2 of the American League Wild Card series against the Detroit Tigers up against it. Tarik Skubal made history in Game 1, helping Detroit take a 1-0 series lead. Since Major League Baseball implemented the new, three-game wild card series (2022), only twice before had a team that lost Game 1 even forced a decisive Game 3.
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You can add the Guardians to that list now.
Cleveland defeated their division rival 6-1 on Wednesday. However, the final score was by no means indicative of how the game actually played out.
Through seven innings, the score was tied 1-1. But it was the Tigers that had littered the base path with runners. Detroit had 13 baserunners in the loss and finished the game 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Meanwhile, the Guardians could not get anything going. They did not even have a base runner past first base until the eighth. But in the penultimate frame, Cleveland exploded for five runs.
Nine-hole hitter Brayan Rocchio hit a solo jack with one out, giving Cleveland a 2-1 lead. That opened the floodgates.
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Steven Kwan then doubled, followed by an RBI double from Daniel Schneemann . After Jose Ramirez was intentionally walked, Bo Naylor hit a three-run home run , breaking the game open.
The Guardians had three plate appearances with runners in scoring position, going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run.
It was a game of missed opportunities for Detroit.
Now, all eyes turn to Thursday afternoon's matinee. The Guardians will send Slade Cecconi to the bump. He will be opposed by Jack Flaherty . The winner of Game 3 will square off with the Seattle Mariners in the AL Divisional Series.
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