The Detroit Tigers couldn't find a moment to win the series in their loss in ALDS Game 5

CLEVELAND — As Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch pointed out this week, every moment of playoff baseball is magnified because of its ability to turn a series around. And in the five-game sweep of the Tigers and Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS, the Guardians found a way to bring about the final decisive moment.

Cleveland emerged from the back-and-forth ALDS series by winning the deciding Game 5 7-3 on Saturday. The Tigers took an early 1-0 lead early in the fifth inning, but the Guardians responded with five runs in the bottom, including a Lane Thomas grand slam off Tarik Skubal for the game-winning hit.

With this momentum, the Guardians found that one extra thing that pushed them past the Tigers. The even series from the regular season – they beat the Guardians 7-6 despite being outscored by the Tigers – led to an intense five-game postseason showdown in which the more experienced team found a way to grind it out.

“When you see how close the game is on so many levels and in so many instances, you know they obviously just did a little bit more,” Hinch said. “And so it doesn’t surprise me considering how we played against these guys all season. But hats off to them for winning this series over everything else.”

RAINER SABIN: In the ALDS Game 5 loss, Tarik Skubal and Detroit Tigers aren't indestructible after all

The five-run fifth snapped a 17-inning postseason scoreless streak from Skubal and, more importantly, put the Tigers in a hole they couldn't get out of against Cleveland's arsenal of bullpen arms. Detroit managed a run in each of the sixth and seventh innings, but the Guardians held on with two insurance runs, including another run from Thomas.

“You dream of moments like this on this stage and in this moment,” said Thomas, who finished 2-4 with five RBIs.

The Guardians' victories can be narrowed down to three key turning points – along with the pitching staff's full effort to neutralize the Tigers' hitters – Thomas clinched the series with the grand slam after David Fry closed Game 4 with a late 2-run home run and Thomas blasted a three-run home run in the first inning to win Game 1.

“That was indicative of our duels throughout the regular season, and it was like whoever landed the big hit would win,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters. “And luckily Lane got it and then we moved on. They haven’t disappeared.”

Vogt's ecstasy was in stark contrast to Hinch, who described himself as a “heartbroken team” that he had to address in the clubhouse, while agreeing that the series was limited to just a few key moments.

“I wish I could sleep in and then move on to the next game,” Hinch said. “I mean, that’s the goal. But this was an incredible series. She's great for baseball. She’s great for the AL Central.”

The Tigers had put themselves in a position to win plays in the previous two games, but were unable to create game-winning moments a third time. The Tigers finished the series 5-for-46 (.108) with runners in scoring position, including 1:12 into Game 5 – the lone hit coming from Jake Rogers in the sixth inning, cutting the Guardians' lead to 5-1. 2.

On Saturday, the Tigers had runners in scoring position in the first, second, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings but couldn't beat former teammate Matthew Boyd or the plethora of relievers who followed him.

“It was part of history today,” Hinch said. “We had a lot of chances. If you look down, they only had chances in three or four innings. We had them in seven or eight. and they were able to persevere with a beast of a bullpen that is difficult to handle.”

Sickly Thug: Adrenaline ensured that Kerry Carpenter quickly returned to the Tigers' lineup after their loss in Game 5 of the ALDS

A missed pitch

Skubal raced through the first four innings, looking every bit the AP Pitching Triple Crown winner who dominated all season and in two playoff starts.

But in the fifth round he ran into trouble and missed the biggest shot of the series with a throw; Thomas, meanwhile, didn't shy away from the middle-middle fastball, placing it in the left field pitches.

“It’s just one pitch,” Skubal said. “It’s just a pitch I’d like to have back. I'm thinking about executing the pitch, but I haven't.

The inning began with a single by Andrés Giménez in the other direction, a strikeout and a single by Steven Kwan in the opposite field to put up two. Fry hit a grounder into the gap between Colt Keith and Spencer Torkelson for an infield single to load the bases for José Ramírez. Skubal hit Ramírez to score a run off a mound visit and then Thomas' at-bat.

The first-pitch sinker for Thomas was supposed to be in, but instead “it ran a little over the plate,” Rogers said. “And Lane did what he was supposed to do. They’re a lot of good hitters.”

The Tigers haven't lost faith in their ace after his first loss since September 12th. Skubal himself said he felt “crisp” despite the sideways fifth-place finish, and Hinch said he was already waiting to get his name back on a lineup card.

“Today wasn’t his fault,” Hinch said. “I mean he was in complete control of the game and wished we had put a few runs on him to give him some breathing room and it was a big blow. This one is going to eat him up all the way.'' But give me that guy again in a playoff series, in a playoff-deciding game, and I look forward to getting his name in the starting lineup as a pitcher.

“That’s the game, right?” Skubal said. “One hit, one throw and that’s what happens in these scenarios. That’s what happens in the postseason, most games are won by the team that has the big swing, which is usually a home run.”

Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press It covers the city's professional teams, the state's two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22and email him at [email protected].

The Detroit Tigers couldn't find a moment to win the series in their loss in ALDS Game 5

ByVanessa

A missed pitch

By Vanessa

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