Tigers on cusp of ALCS after shutout win vs. Guardians in Game 3
The Detroit Tigers leaned on six pitchers in a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on Wednesday.
Detroit is now one win away from reaching its first American League Championship Series since 2013.
Keider Montero, Brant Hurter, Beau Brieske, Sean Guenther, Will Vest, and Tyler Holton combined to allow six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Hurter picked up the win following 3 1/3 innings in relief after Montero went one inning to start the game.
The Tigers got an RBI single from Riley Greene in the first, a sacrifice fly by Matt Vierling in the third, and an RBI double from Spencer Torkelson in the sixth.
"We're human," Torkelson said postgame, according to Larry Lage of The Associated Press. "We know how close we are (to the ALCS)."
Meanwhile, this is the first time the Guardians suffered back-to-back shutout losses in the postseason in franchise history. Cleveland also lost 3-0 in Game 2.
Vierling prevented the Guardians from scoring in the seventh with a nice leaping catch at third base on David Fry's liner.
"This is a huge victory for us, just to see the stadium and the whole city come out for the first playoff game in a decade," Vierling added.
Game 4 goes Thursday at Comerica Park. Right-hander Tanner Bibee will get the ball for Cleveland, while Detroit has yet to announce its starter.