CLEVELAND — Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run homer off Cleveland's All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning, and the Detroit Tigers stunned the Guardians 3-0 in Game 2 on Monday to even their AL Division Series at one game apiece.
Carpenter connected for a 423-foot shot with two outs off Clase, who had not given up a run since Aug. 30 and led the American League with 47 saves.
“To do it off him is special,” said Carpenter. “He's one of the best.”'
Detroit ace Tarik Skubal pitched seven shutout innings, increasing his postseason total to 13, before the Tigers put together a rare big inning against the almost unhittable Clase.
The intimidating right-hander has dominated hitters all season — he hasn't blown a save since May — and was making just his second multi-inning appearance of 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.
“We now have two games at our place. We know it’s going to be electric. We know Detroit has waited a really long time for a playoff game. We’re going to have a couple of them and a chance to take control of this series.”
When Carpenter stepped into the box, the Tigers felt something good would happen.
“Kerry coming up there being Kerry Bonds, that's what you want right there,” Rogers said. “He got one low and in the middle of the zone. I had the best view of it and I was screaming from the bottom of my lungs.”
After Skubal pitched seven innings and winner Will Vest got through the eighth, Beau Brieske pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Skubal was getting a postgame workout when Carpenter homered.
“What a swing,” he said. “I was on the ground, and I think that’s the fastest I’ve ever stood up in my life. What a swing off a really good pitcher, too, the best closer in the game. That was incredible to watch.”
Skubal, who won the AL pitching triple crown by leading the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (288), allowed just three hits. The left-hander dominated the Guardians over the first 4 1/3 innings, striking out eight before Josh Naylor doubled with one out in the fifth for Cleveland's first hit. Skubal then hit rookie Jhonkensy Noel on the left hand.
But the 27-year-old Skubal, who has never pitched a complete game, got Andrés Giménez to bounce into an inning-ending double play and celebrated loudly as he left the mound and headed toward Detroit's dugout.
Cleveland also threatened in the sixth.
No. 9 hitter Brayan Rocchio doubled with one out and Kwan singled. Rocchio was held at third, and Skubal again got out of trouble as Detroit's infield turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play, prompting the lefty to raise his hands and ask the crowd for more applause like a conductor pushing his orchestra for volume.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Guardians: Utilityman Tyler Freeman was replaced on the ALDS roster after straining an oblique while taking a swing in a simulated game on Sunday. Freeman, who was replaced by rookie Ángel Martínez, was probably going to be in the lineup for Game 2. He batted .385 against Detroit this season and knows Skubal well after facing him in the minors.
UP NEXT
Guardians RHP Alex Cobb will make his first start since Sept. 1 in Game 3. He's been sidelined with a middle finger blister and only made three starts after coming over in a July trade from San Francisco. He'll be pitching in the postseason for the first time since Game 3 of the ALDS in 2013 for Tampa Bay.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch had not announced his starter.
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