Kerry Carpenter and Tarik Skubal help Tigers tie ALDS and Guardians

CLEVELAND — He wasn’t in the game from the start — but he helped finish it.

Detroit Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run home run against Cleveland Guardians All-Star Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday, breaking a scoreless tie.

The blast – the hardest ball he’s hit in his career – came on a 2-2 slider, tying the best-of-five series at one game apiece. Game 3 is Wednesday in Detroit.

“I wasn’t sitting on it, but I was just in time for his most difficult throw … and I was concentrating on him starting in a certain zone and my instinct took over and he missed a spot,” Carpenter said after The Tigers won 3-0. “So I took advantage of it.”

The 423-foot shot came after two consecutive hits by Clase by catcher Jake Rogers and shortstop Trey Sweeney. According to ESPN Research, the improbable home run was the first hit by Clase to a left-handed batter all season and just the ninth hit in postseason history in the ninth inning or later of a scoreless game.

“It’s about exactly who you want there,” Detroit teammate Spencer Torkelson said. “When you have a guy who can stay cool like that in those moments, you have the best chance of success.”

Torkelson’s comments were echoed by others in the clubhouse. That’s because Detroit’s second-half surge in the postseason coincided with Carpenter’s return to the lineup after being sidelined for two and a half months with a lumbar spine stress fracture.

While he was injured, the Tigers finished 24th in the points standings, but this rose to 11th from the day he returned to the team in August through the end of the regular season. Carpenter’s two home runs against Seattle in his first game back on August 13 – and another the next day – foreshadowed his impact.

“Everyone knows it,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “It’s no secret that he’s a big threat and he’s prepared and he’s the most balanced person you can get, which allows him to stay grounded in everything we ask of him . We missed him a lot over the year.” “

Carpenter entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, popping up to catcher after taking “zero” swings in the batting cage while waiting his turn. He knew he would get at least one more chance, considering the Guardians were already in their bullpen in the fifth inning and the Tigers like to use their bench for the best matches.

“It’s pretty fun to be a part of it and it’s special to do it against (Clase) because he’s literally the best closer in the game for a reason,” Carpenter said.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said: “These things will happen and it’s unfortunate when it happened, but at the same time he will have the ball again in the ninth.”

The nervousness increased as the afternoon progressed as neither team was able to get a runner to the finish. While Guardians starter Matthew Boyd exited in the fifth game, Tigers ace Tarik Skubal did not. The likely AL Cy Young winner was as good as ever, throwing seven shutout innings while saving his best pitches for inning-ending double-play balls in the fifth and sixth innings.

“That’s when I’m at my best when I keep the game simple and just go straight to the guys,” said Skubal. “Strike one, strike two and make the guys uncomfortable.”

After those two moments, Skubal left the mound and showed emotion as he walked back to the dugout.

He earned that right as he became the fifth pitcher to begin his postseason career with multiple scoreless appearances lasting six or more innings. He beat the Houston Astros in the wild-card round over six innings and added seven more shutout innings on Monday. The Guardians only had three goals before him, struck eight times and didn’t get a free pass. Skubal was dominant.

“There’s a reason he’s the best pitcher in the world,” reliever Beau Brieske said with a smile.

Skubal would be ready to start Game 5 if necessary.

Detroit fought its way to the postseason with flying colors before defeating Houston in the AL Wild Card Series. The Tigers finally struck, losing 7-0 in Game 1 on Saturday.

“You have to stay in the fight,” catcher Jake Rogers said. “That’s it.”

The Tigers have been in this fight for nearly two months – roughly since Carpenter returned to the lineup. His home run on Monday suddenly changed the tone of the series.

“I knew it was gone,” he said. “And it was just an incredible feeling to be able to move forward for this team.”