DETROIT – The Cleveland Guardians completed a stunning sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a 3-1 victory on Thursday, fueled by a clutch two-run homer from Jose Ramirez in the seventh inning. This win marks the Guardians' seventh consecutive victory and brings them within 3 1/2 games of the AL Central-leading Tigers with just over a week remaining in the regular season. The two teams are scheduled to face off again for three more games from September 23-25, promising a thrilling conclusion to the division race.
Tarik Skubal, returning from a recent injury scare, pitched six solid innings for the Tigers, allowing one run on seven hits and striking out nine. However, he was replaced by Troy Melton in the seventh, and Ramirez quickly capitalized, launching a 368-foot shot to right field just nine pitches later.
Jhonkensy Noel had previously tied the game for the Guardians with a solo home run in the fourth inning. Tanner Bibee delivered a strong performance on the mound for Cleveland, allowing just one run and four hits while striking out eight over six innings. The Guardians' bullpen, consisting of Tim Herrin, Kolby Allard, and Hunter Gaddis, shut down the Tigers' offense in the final three innings, with Gaddis earning his third save of the season.
The Tigers' offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities, failing to score after loading the bases with no outs in the second inning. Colt Keith, who drove in the Tigers' lone run with an RBI double, left the game with back stiffness after the inning.
The defending AL Central-champion Guardians have turned their season around, winning 12 of their last 13 games and reaching a season-high 10 games over .500. Their next challenge comes Friday night in Minnesota, where LHP Parker Messick is scheduled to start against Twins RHP Pablo Lopez.
Key Moments:
- Jose Ramirez's tiebreaking two-run homer in the 7th.
- Jhonkensy Noel's game-tying solo homer in the 4th.
- Tanner Bibee's strong start for the Guardians.
- The Guardians' dominant bullpen performance.
What's Next?
The Guardians travel to Minnesota to face the Twins, while the Tigers open their final homestand.