Carpenter's 3-run homer off Clase in the 9th helps Tigers level series with Guardians

 

After Detroit Tigers' All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase allowed Kerry Carpenter to hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning, the Detroit Tigers shocked the Guardians 3-0 in Game 2 on Monday to tie the AL Division Series at one game apiece.

With two outs, Carpenter hit a 423-foot homer off of Clase, who was leading the American League in saves (47) and had not allowed a run since August 30.
Before the Tigers put together a rare big inning against the nearly unhittable Clase, Detroit ace Tarik Skubal pitched seven scoreless innings, bringing his postseason total to thirteen.

"To do it off him is special," said Carpenter. "He's one of the best."'

This was just the frightening right-hander's second multi-inning appearance of 2024. He has crushed batters the entire season and hasn't blown a save since May.

Oh, I leave quite an impression

423 feet to be exact! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/yq6k6Fvss1

— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024

 Jake Rogers and Trey Sweeney hit consecutive two-out singles. Carpenter, who entered an inning earlier as a pinch-hitter, turned on Clase's third straight slider, sending the ball into the right-field seats and shocking Cleveland's rowdy home crowd.

"How about those three two-out hits?" Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt didn't regret using Clase for more than one inning.

"Emmanuel has been locked down all year," Vogt said. "He's been nearly perfect. He's human, too. These things are going to happen, and it's unfortunate the timing of when it did, but at the same time he's going to have the ball in the ninth again.

"This is the best closer in the game for a reason, and they just happened to get him tonight."

The homer drove in the first runs of the series for the Tigers, who have been finding ways to win for months. Detroit went 31-13 after Aug. 11 to qualify for the postseason and then stunned the AL West champion Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series.

They're at it again and head home to Comerica Park for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday with a chance to advance.

"You come to this environment, on the road, and it's a five-game series," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "When you get that emotional win and go back home 1-1, you feel like you got one on their home turf.