DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers couldn’t really afford to lose on Monday night.
No, a loss to the Cleveland Guardians in Game 2 of the American League Division Series wouldn’t have eliminated the Tigers. But it would have been a tall order to win three straight against the team that won the AL Central by 6.5 games.
If any team could do it, it would be these resilient Tigers. But again, it’s best to avoid an 0-2 hole whenever possible.
Instead, the Tigers and Guardians head to Detroit deadlocked at a game apiece. The Tigers get two home playoff games at Comerica Park before a potential Game 5 that would feature Tarik Skubal, the best pitcher on the planet.
Yeah, I’d say Game 2 was pretty important.
Before Kerry Carpenter sent the entire state of Michigan into a frenzy with his heroic two-out, two-strike homer in the top of the ninth, the Tigers found themselves with their backs against the wall because of one key play.
It was either an unbelievable catch by left fielder Steven Kwan or a bit of terrible luck for the Tigers.
Depends who you ask.
With two outs in the top of the eighth inning and the game locked in a scoreless tie, Wenceel Perez hit a looping liner to left field with two runners on base.
The ball bounced into Kwan’s glove -- the question is whether it bounced off the grass or the thumb of that glove before ricocheting into the webbing.
It was called a catch on the field, and after replay review, that original call stood.
Social media blew up with photos and angles that appeared to show the ball hitting the ground, but nobody knows for sure. I’ll let you be the judge:
The catch probability on this absurd Steven Kwan play: 10% 🤯 #ALDS pic.twitter.com/ZTxN85FhEb
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024
It wouldn’t be a Tigers-Guardians game without a little controversy. But the important thing is that the Tigers found a way to win anyway.
There’s no rattling this team. Sure, Kwan’s play had an impressive 10% catch probability. But that’s nothing compared to the 0.2% playoff odds the Tigers faced in mid-August.
Thanks to Skubal, Carpenter, and the rest of the squad, this is now a best-of-three series, and guess who has the home field advantage?
Playoff baseball is back in Detroit.
