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Tigers continue playoff roll after sweeping Astros
The Tigers swept Houston with a 5-2 win in Game 2 on Wednesday, setting up a playoff date with the Guardians.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - The Detroit Tigers are going back to the American League Divisional Series in Cleveland -- guaranteeing at least one playoff home game next week.
The back-and-forth game two featured the Tigers jumping out to a 1-0 lead before giving up two runs in the seventh. But a clutch, bases-loaded triple by Andy Ibanez gave the Tigers the lead back. They never relinquished it.
Tigers explode for 4 runs in the eighth
After a very stiff pitchers duel between the teams through five innings, Parker Meadows stepped up for third at bat against Brown – and sent a moonshot over the right field wall to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
But it wouldn't last.
In the bottom of the seventh, rookie Jackson Jobe hit a batter and then gave up back-to-back singles to load the bases with nobody out.
Jon Singleton hit a shot to Spencer Torkelson at first base. Torkelson threw home for the force out but bounced the throw in the dirt, giving the Astros their first run of the game.
Jose Altuve fouled out to right field, scoring Jeremy Pena from third, giving the Astros a 2-1 lead.
Sean Guenther came in to pitch for the Tigers and got Kyle Tucker to bounce into an inning-ending double-play.
But if you've learned nothing from the Tigers over the past few months – they don't quit and they don't go quietly.
In the top of the eighth, Kerry Carpenter and Matt Vierling hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with one out. A wild pitch scored Carpenter and suddenly this game was tied with a runner in scoring position for the Tigers.
After back-to-back walks to Colt Keith and Spencer Torkelson, Andy Ibanez stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded.
He laced a triple to the left field to suddenly make it 5-2.
In the 9th, the Tigers put two on but couldn't score.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 01: Spencer Torkelson #20 and Matt Vierling #8 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate after the Tigers defeated the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series presented by T-Mobile 5G Home Internet at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday …
Manager A.J. Hinch went to the bullpen and called on Will Vest to slam the door. It took him seven pitches. He struck out Victor Caratini, Jeremy Pena flew out to deep right-center, and then a ground-out to second Mauricio Dubón sealed the deal.
The Tigers get to celebrate this one – and on Saturday, they'll take on the Cleveland Guardians in game one of the ALDS.
Quiet first three innings
Both teams struggled to get runners into scoring position throughout the first three innings with each team scratching just one hit each through three.
The Tigers were the first to go to the bullpen, calling on Brenan Hanifee in the second. This was expected as A.J. Hinch promised that all 11 guys in the bullpen were be ready to be called on in the game.
Wild card game two starting pitchers
With the Tigers ace done for this round, they're going to have to find some offensive firepower against a talented Houston Astros pitching staff. Wednesday, they'll face Detroit native Hunter Brown – who was one of the top pitchers in the game.
The former Wayne State star was drafted in the 5th round of the 2019 draft by the Astros and has had a bit of an up-and-down career thus far. But he seemed to turn it on this year in June when he posted an ERA of 1.16. July his ERA climbed a bit to 3.53, while in August it returned back to 1.45.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are sending Tyler Holton to the mound, but it's unlikely he'll be there long. Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch said it would be more like "pitching chaos" in the series as he mixes up his lineups and pitchers to get the most favorable situation through nine innings.
It's worked for the past two months to get the Tigers to the playoffs, so why change now?
Tigers starting lineups for game two
Hinch's lineup looks drastically different than in game one, with Parker Meadows taking the leadoff spot, Kerry Carpenter getting DH, and Matt Vierling hitting third. The only position player in the same spot in the batting order is Spencer Torkelson, who hits 6th.
- Parker Meadows, CF
- Kerry Carpenter, DH
- Matt Vierling, RF
- Riley Greene, LF
- Colt Keith, 2B
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B
- Zach McKinstry, 3B
- Trey Sweeney, SS
- Jake Rogers, C
The Astros also released their lineup, with speedster Jose Altuve taking the first at bat.
- Jose Altuve, 2B
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Yordan Alvarez, DH
- Alex Bregman, 3B
- Yainer Diaz, C
- Victor Caratini, 1B
- Jeremy Peña, SS
- Jason Heyward, LF
- Chas McCormick, CF