CLEVELAND — Lane Thomas hit a three-run homer in a five-run outburst before sixth-seeded Detroit got an out, and second-seeded Cleveland unleashed its lights-out bullpen to complete a four-hitter in the opening game of an American League Division Series between Central rivals.
The shot by Thomas — on his first-ever swing in the Major League Baseball playoffs — helped the Guardians cool off the Tigers, who stormed into the postseason with a second-half surge before sweeping the AL West champion Houston Astros in the wild-card round this past week.
“It was electric,” said Thomas, who was acquired from the Washington Nationals at the MLB trade deadline in late July. “It was everything I had thought and more.”
Tanner Bibee pitched 4 2/3 innings before Guardians manager Stephen Vogt swung the door open to MLB’s best bullpen this year to finish off the Tigers.
Cleveland’s relievers combined for 4 1/3 hitless innings to finish and match the largest shutout victory margin in the club’s postseason history. The Tigers struck out 13 times and didn’t get a runner past first base in the final four innings.