Watch: Unlikely hero sends Tigers to ALDS, ends Astros' ALCS streak

Thanks to an unlikely hero, the hottest team in baseball is moving on to the American League Division Series.

In Game 2 of their AL wild-card series on Wednesday, the Detroit Tigers clinched a two-game sweep of the Houston Astros, winning 5-2 led by a clutch double late by pinch-hitter Andy Ibanez. With the contest knotted up 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning, the utility infielder delivered with two outs, smashing a 1-2 sinker from left-hander Josh Hader down the left-field line, driving in three runs.

Ibanez saw action in 99 regular-season games, slashing .241/.295/.357 with five home runs and 32 RBI (224 AB). He recorded only 14 extra-base hits this summer. Prior to Wednesday, the 31-year-old had only one extra-base knock (a double) over his previous 65 plate appearances.

The victory continues what's been an unbelievable turnaround for the Tigers, who, on Aug. 1, were 15.0 games out of the AL Central race and 8.5 games back of the final wild-card spot. Much of the credit goes to the rag-tag group of scrappy players who got the job done on the field, but manager A.J. Hinch did a masterful job down the stretch as well and was rewarded with a measure of revenge against his former club in the wild-card round.

The loss for the Astros marks the end of a long streak and perhaps an era. Houston's run of consecutive ALCS berths was snapped at seven and the club now faces an uncertain future with several familiar faces possibly headed elsewhere, including veteran starter Justin Verlander, who struggled to the point that he was left off the wild-card roster and soon-too-be free-agent All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman.

For their part, the Tigers move on to the ALDS for the first time since 2013. They will take on the Cleveland Guardians, who finished with the regular season with the second-best record in the AL (92-69).