Detroit Tigers fans are eager for first home playoff game since 2014

DETROIT – For the first time since 2014, the Detroit Tigers are hosting a playoff game inside Comerica Park in front of their home fans.

The Tigers will play the Cleveland Guardians in game three of the American League Divisional Series inside Comerica Park on Wednesday (Oct. 9) at 3:08 p.m.

The series is tied 1-1 after for young Tigers who, for the first time in their baseball careers, are playing in October during the postseason, and they expect their fans to bring the noise after the decade-long home playoff game drought.

After dropping game one in Cleveland 7-0, the Tigers found themselves in a dogfight until the 9th inning when catcher Jake Rogers hit a two-out single to get on base.

Then shortstop Trey Sweeney extended the Tigers' lives in game two when he, too, singled to move Rogers to third base in the ninth with two outs.

Left-handed hitter Kerry Carpenter stepped to the plate in a 2-2 count with two outs and two runners on base against the best closer in Major League Baseball in All-Star Emmanuel Clase and hit a three-run home run to right field to stun the Guardians 3-0 on Monday.

The home run went 423 feet against Clase, who had not given up a run since Aug. 30 while also leading the American League with 47 saves.

Carpenter’s historic go-ahead home run joins Magglio Ordóñez (2006 American League Championship Series) and Al Kaline (1972 American League Championship Series) for go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning or later in Tigers postseason history.

Carpenter also became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit a two-out, two-strike go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of a postseason game since former Tiger Kirk Gibson did it back in game one of the 1988 World Series.

There’s nothing better than seeing Tigers fans roar proudly inside a quiet stadium on the road in front of the opponent’s home fans like they did in Progressive Field.

The only thing better than that would be the fans in these next two home games during the ALDS, making an environment that would be tough for the Guardians to maintain their focus while still trying to overcome the heartbreak of losing home-field advantage in this best-of-five series.

“I think our place is really incredible,” said Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch. “To play, I’ve seen it really packed before. We expect it to be packed for this series and help us create an environment that’s tough on the other side.”