Tigers Punch Postseason Ticket with Clutch 2–1 Win Behind Jones and Montero
DETROIT — Comerica Park shook with October-level energy Sunday afternoon as the Detroit Tigers clinched a postseason berth with a tense 2–1 victory over the Minnesota Twins. Rookie right-hander Keider Montero set the tone on the mound, and utility man Jahmai Jones provided the decisive swings in a game that felt like the culmination of a season built on resilience.
Montero, making just his ninth big-league start, displayed poise well beyond his 23 years. He struck out seven over 4 1/3 innings, scattering five hits and allowing only one earned run without issuing a walk. His fastball command and biting slider kept the Twins guessing and gave Detroit the stable start it needed in a must-win scenario.
“He was fearless,” manager A.J. Hinch said of Montero. “Every pitch mattered today, and he attacked the zone from the first inning. That’s exactly what you want when the stakes are this high.”
The Tigers’ offense came courtesy of Jones, who has carved out a role as one of the team’s most reliable late-season contributors. Jones drove in both Detroit runs, finishing 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles—one in the third inning to tie the game and another in the fifth to give Detroit the lead it would not relinquish.
“I just wanted to stay aggressive and help the team any way I could,” Jones said, champagne dripping from his jersey in the clubhouse afterward. “It’s an honor to contribute on a day like this.”
From there, Detroit’s bullpen slammed the door. Tyler Holton earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, improving to 6–5 on the season. Jason Foley and Andrew Chafin bridged the middle innings before closer Alex Lange worked a tense ninth to record his 28th save, striking out two and stranding the potential tying run at second.
The victory capped a late-season surge that saw the Tigers outlast division rivals and secure their first playoff appearance since 2014. Fans, starved for October baseball, roared with every strikeout and leapt to their feet as Lange fired the final pitch past a swinging Carlos Correa.
“This city has waited a long time,” Hinch said, raising a toast during the postgame celebration. “I’m proud of every guy in that room. We still have more to accomplish, but tonight we celebrate.”
For Jones, who bounced between several organizations before landing in Detroit, the moment was especially sweet. “I’ve fought hard to stay in this game,” he said. “To help the Tigers reach the postseason—it means everything.”
The Tigers now turn their attention to playoff positioning, but Sunday’s game will be remembered as the night they proved ready for the bright lights. Comerica Park stayed packed well after the final out, fans chanting “Let’s Go Tigers!” as players sprayed champagne and hugged families on the field.
“This is just the beginning,” Hinch said. “We believe we can make a deep run. Why not us?”
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