Detroit Tigers lose 5-4 to Guardians in Game 4, setting up hold-your-breath ALDS finale

Back to Cleveland they go.

For one more game.

Winner takes all.

The Cleveland Guardians beat the Detroit Tigers , 5-4, on Thursday night in Game 4 of the ALDS, tying the series and setting up a clench-your-teeth, hold-your-breath series finale. These two teams will play in Game 5 Saturday at Progressive Field in Cleveland (4:38 p.m., TBS).

The good news for the Tigers? They will start Tarik Skubal – arguably the best pitcher in the American League.

In many ways, this was a wasted opportunity for the Tigers. They were playing at home, in front of a packed house of 44,923 , with no pressure. Cleveland had its back to the wall, in a must-win game.

And the Tigers looked like they were in a great position, taking a 3-2 lead into the seventh.

But with two outs in the seventh inning, David Fry hit a two-run homer off Beau Brieske, giving the Guardians a 4-3 lead.

Then, in the ninth, Fry put down a perfect bunt on a safety squeeze, as Cleveland added another run.

ACE IN THE HOLE: Detroit Tigers starting pitcher for ALDS Game 5: Tarik Skubal set to take the mound

This time, Clase closes the door

The Tigers had a great opportunity in the eighth, putting two guys on with one out.

So Cleveland went to its great closer, Emmanuel Clase.

Zach McKinstry grounded out, advancing the runners to second and third.

And then Clase struck out Trey Sweeney with a 101 mph cutter.

In the ninth inning, Justyn-Henry Malloy doubled, and Jace Jung drove him home.

But the run from Fry’s bunt doomed the Tigers.

You can only stop great hitters for so long

The Tigers have great respect for José Ramírez, the Guardians third baseman.

“He's a great hitter,” Tarik Skubal said after Game 2. “I think he's one of the best five players in the Big Leagues, too.”

For the first three games of this series, the Tigers were able to control Ramírez, holding him to 1-for-9; and they got him out in his first two at bats in Game 4.

MORE ON JOBE BELOW: How Detroit Tigers top prospect Jackson Jobe fared in Game 4 of ALDS vs Guardians

Then, their luck ran out.

In the fifth inning, Ramírez crushed a 418-foot homer into the stands in left field, as Cleveland took a 2-1 lead.

Respecting the numbers

Sometimes, managers go with their gut.

And sometimes, they have to respect the numbers.

In this case, the numbers were too good to ignore. So, A.J. Hinch started Zach McKinstry on Thursday, because McKinstry hit 5-for-15 while driving in a pair of runs against Tanner Bibee.

“So he's back in there again today,” Hinch said before the game.

McKinstry delivered in the fifth inning, hitting a homer and tying the game 2-2.

Base running blunder

The Tigers had a great chance to put together a big inning in the second, after Trey Sweeney hit a sacrifice fly, knocking in a run.

And then, it got even better when the Tigers loaded the bases with one out. Jake Rogers hit a line drive to short stop – in front of Spencer Torkelson.

What’s the rule you learn in Little League? If the ball is hit on a line drive in front of you, you freeze.

But Torkelson didn’t react in time, was hung out to dry and was doubled up, ending the threat.

Pérez time

The drama was off the charts – tie game, the tension rising – and Comerica Park broke into song:

You've got mud on your face, you big disgraceKicking your can all over the place, singin'…

The Tigers and Cleveland Guardians were tied at 2-2, Cleveland made a pitching change, as the crowd in Comerica Park was singing to Queen: “We will rock you.”

The Tigers had two guys on, so Cleveland brought in Hunter Gaddis, a right-handed reliver.

After Colt Keith struck out, Hinch brought in Wenceel Pérez, hitting for Spencer Toreklson.

And Pérez responded, blooping a ball into left, driving in Kerry Carpenter, as the Tigers took a 3-2 lead.

The scary part?

Carpenter hobbled home and was pulled from the game with what looked like a leg injury.

Jace Jung batted for Carpenter in the seventh inning.

Jackson Jobe appearance

Jackson Jobe, the Tigers' rookie, pitched in the eighth inning, holding Cleveland scoreless.

But it came with drama.

Will Brennan hit a ball deep to right field and Pérez chased it down, but couldn’t get to it.

Then, Colt Keith saved a run, with a magnificent diving play to his left.

Keeping the game at 4-3.

In the top of the ninth, Cleveland put two runners on against Jobe and Hinch went to Will Vest.

Fry laid down a perfect bunt, adding another run.

A surprise curveball

Reese Olson got the start for the Tigers and got into a jam in the third inning when the Guardians got runners and first and second.

But he struck out Will Brennan with a curve.

Which was a curveball on its own.

Coming into the game, he had used it just 6% if the time.

But he pulled it out at the perfect time.

Olson went four innings, scattering five hits and allowed just one run.

After the fourth inning, he left the game tied, 1-1, and got the Hinch handshake.

Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com . Follow him on X @seideljeff . To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel .

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers lose 5-4 to Guardians in Game 4, setting up hold-your-breath ALDS finale