Tigers Beat Guardians, Advance to ALDS vs Mariners
CLEVELAND — What was supposed to feel like a Cleveland house party turned into a Detroit celebration. After Wednesday’s crushing Game 2 loss, many assumed the Tigers were finished. But on Thursday afternoon, Detroit flipped the script with a 6–3 victory at Progressive Field to clinch the AL Wild Card Series and advance to face the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS.
For a franchise that beat Houston in last year’s Wild Card Series, this marks the Tigers’ second straight trip to the ALDS — a sign that October baseball is back in Detroit. And truthfully, given how uneven this season has been, fans should savor the fact they’re here at all.
Context: a season of ups and downs
The Tigers had their share of turbulence on the road to October. They hit a rough patch in early July, dropping a three-game sweep to Seattle before the All-Star break and losing 8 of 9 immediately afterward. And in September, the bats went ice cold, sparking doubts about whether this team even belonged in the postseason picture.
That’s what makes this Wild Card triumph feel so rewarding. For all the inconsistency — overachieving early, underachieving late — the Tigers survived. They’re still standing, still playing meaningful baseball, and still capable of producing moments like Game 3 in Cleveland.
Flaherty sets the tone
Detroit turned to Jack Flaherty, and the veteran delivered the kind of steady performance the Tigers desperately needed. He allowed just three hits and one run over 4 2/3 innings, striking out five with three walks.
It wasn’t overpowering, but it was composed and effective. Flaherty kept the Guardians quiet, limited opportunities, and set a calm early tone that gave the Tigers room to settle in and wait for their bats to come alive.
Dingler steals the spotlight
The defining play came in the bottom of the 4th. Valera led off with a double and scored on a José Ramírez single, bringing the Cleveland crowd to life with nobody out. Ramírez, looking to press the advantage, took off for second on a steal attempt. That’s when Dingler unleashed a laser to second, and Báez applied a smooth, no-look tag. In an instant, what felt like the start of a big Guardians inning turned into a magic moment that hushed a raucous ballpark.
Then came the swing that every young player dreams of. In the 6th, Dingler crushed a 401-foot home run to center — a no-doubt shot from an Ohio native against the team he grew up rooting for. The blast gave Detroit its first lead of the day at 2–1, and Progressive Field went silent.
And while we’re talking about catchers — I grew up behind the plate myself, and my guy was Lance Parrish, who wore number 13. That was the number I wore through my entire youth. Seeing Dingler wear 13 automatically makes me root for him. To me, he looks like the most complete player of all Detroit’s young core, and I believe he’s going to be big in this Seattle series.
For a franchise that has cycled through catchers for years, Dingler’s performance felt like a glimpse of the future. He wasn’t just a stopgap — he looked like a cornerstone.
The breakthrough rally
After Dingler’s home run in the sixth, the Tigers kept rolling in the 7th. That’s when they finally broke Cleveland’s grip with a two-out rally.
With two on, Wenceel Pérez, who had been hitless in the series, lined a two-run single to right. The dugout exploded. Spencer Torkelson followed with an RBI hit, and Riley Greene — who had been questioned for being lifted in Game 2 — delivered another run-scoring knock.
In a matter of minutes, the Tigers turned a tight 2–1 game into a commanding 6–1 lead. It was the kind of sequence that had eluded them all second half, and the timing couldn’t have been bigger.
Guardians silenced (with a moment of chaos)
What could have become a nightmare for Tigers fans in the 8th was steadied by Will Vest. After dropping a throw while covering first base — a miscue that allowed Rocchio and Kwan to score unearned runs — Vest kept his composure. When José Ramírez tried to stretch the play and take second, Vest unleashed a perfect throw to nail him.
To keep his calm and have the awareness to make that play in such a high-pressure moment was truly remarkable. It didn’t erase the mistake, but it prevented further damage and kept the Tigers firmly in control.
Redemption after Game 2 collapse
The turnaround was stunning. Less than 24 hours earlier, Detroit had gone 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, stranded 15, and struck out 11 times in a frustrating Game 2 loss. Those struggles echoed the September slump, when the lineup looked lifeless. Fans braced for the worst.
Instead, the Tigers delivered their most complete game in weeks. Flaherty’s steadiness, Dingler’s brilliance, and timely hits erased the stench of Game 2. It showed that this team, despite flaws, can rise in October.
Final thoughts
The Tigers feel like a team that lives somewhere between their overachieving first half and their underwhelming second. They don’t have a dominant pitching staff, and their lineup has been inconsistent all season. Some days the bats look alive; other days they disappear. That’s what makes them so unpredictable — and so frustrating.
Do they have enough to make a deep run? It’s anyone’s guess. They may not even have enough to get past Seattle. However, the good news is that the Mariners aren’t a juggernaut either. Yes, they swept the Tigers at Comerica back in July and finished strong after adding Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor. They went 17–1 down the stretch before the Dodgers swept them in the final series, and they now enjoy a first-round bye and home-field edge if this ALDS goes the distance. On paper, Seattle should be favored.
Still, the Tigers have been laser-focused on Cleveland for more than a month, tracking them in the standings and ultimately knocking them out of October. That mission is accomplished. Now comes a new challenge — a chance to breathe, reset, and play with house money.
Truthfully, few people expected Detroit to leave Progressive Field with a series win. But here they are, back in the ALDS for the second year in a row. For a franchise that went far too long without October baseball, that alone is something to embrace.
Flaws and all, this is postseason baseball in Detroit again. It’s a chance for young players like Dingler, Greene, and Carpenter to start building a playoff legacy of their own. The ride may not last forever, but for now, it’s worth enjoying every pitch.
