GOOD NEWS: Tigers Snap Eight-Game Slide, Tie Guardians Atop AL Central
DETROIT — The Motor City finally had something to roar about. After eight agonizing games without a win, the Detroit Tigers erupted Tuesday night, launching three home runs and stunning the Cleveland Guardians with a 6–2 victory that jolted the American League Central race.
The stakes could not have been higher. Cleveland entered the evening holding a narrow lead and the head-to-head tiebreaker. Detroit knew it needed a statement, and the bats delivered from the very first inning. Andy Ibáñez drew a leadoff walk before Parker Meadows ripped a double to the gap, setting the tone. Moments later, rookie catcher Dillon Jones lofted a solo shot to left, his bat flipping the tension into pure electricity.
The fireworks didn’t stop there. In the bottom of the first, veteran outfielder Henry Perez ambushed a first-pitch fastball and deposited it deep into the right-field seats. Comerica Park shook as fans rose in disbelief and delight. The Tigers, a team that had looked lifeless during their skid, suddenly seemed reborn.
The loudest cheer, though, came in the fifth inning when Riley Greene launched his 36th homer of the season — a towering drive that sailed into the second deck in right. Greene rounded the bases with a grin as teammates spilled from the dugout, knowing that one swing had tied him for fourth in the league and, more importantly, put Detroit firmly in control of the night.
“Every game counts now,” Greene said afterward, still buzzing from the roar of the crowd. “We know what’s at stake, and we’re not backing down.”
Starting pitcher Reese Olson gave the Tigers six gritty innings, scattering six hits and striking out seven. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, pumping his fist as the final out was recorded. The bullpen followed with near-perfection, highlighted by Alex Lange bridging the gap to the ninth.
Then came the exclamation point. Reliever Will Vest took the mound with a four-run lead and carved through the Guardians’ heart of the order, striking out all three batters he faced. Each swinging strike brought the Comerica faithful to its feet, and the final pitch — a biting slider — sent the crowd into a frenzy. Vest let out a triumphant yell as teammates swarmed him near the mound.
Manager A.J. Hinch praised the club’s resilience. “We’ve taken some punches this month,” he said. “But this group never stopped believing. Tonight you saw the fight that’s been in that clubhouse all year.”
The win moves Detroit into a tie with Cleveland atop the AL Central standings with just one series remaining — a three-game set against the Boston Red Sox. Because the Guardians own the tiebreaker, the Tigers must finish ahead in the win column to claim the division crown. Still, after weeks of frustration, the playoff dream remains alive.
“It’s a new season starting tomorrow,” Hinch added. “We control what we can control. And tonight, we showed we’re not going away.”
For a city starved for October baseball, Tuesday’s victory felt like a promise that meaningful games are still ahead.
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