The Cleveland Guardians couldn't have asked for a better start to Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday. They scored five points before the Tigers recorded an out.
Despite not playing a game for a week due to a bye loss in the first round of the wild card round, the Guardians' batting lineup showed no signs of rust.
After blanking the Detroit Tigers in the top of the first inning, the game started when Guardians leadoff batter Stephen Kwan nearly flew out of bounds while attempting a home run, resulting in a double that narrowly missed the right-field wall. . David Fry followed Kwan with a walk.
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Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas, 8, celebrates with his teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning of Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS at Progressive Field. (Ken Blaze/Imagine Images)
The Guardians placed runners on first and second base with no outs and sent their strongest hitter Jose Ramirez to the plate.
Ramirez hit a chopper down the third base line that Tigers third baseman Zach McKinstry couldn't handle, and Kwan scored on the play, giving the Guardians a 1-0 lead.
In his next at-bat, No. 4 batter Josh Naylor hit a fly ball to the plate, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch had enough foresight to remove starting pitcher Tyler Holton, who had thrown four batters but failed to record an out, from the game, and Reece Olson took the mound.
Olson's first pitch after entering the game was not a good one. He threw a breaking ball that hit the middle of the plate, and outfielder Lane Thomas hit it for a three-run home run, giving the Guardians a 5-0 lead.
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Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning of Game 1 of the ALDS of the 2024 MLB Playoffs against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. (Ken Blaze/Imagine Images)
The Tigers' first record from an inning was recorded by the Guardian's seventh batter of the inning, when John Kensie Noel grounded out.
That was all the offense the Guardians needed for a 7-0 shutout victory, holding the Tigers' offense to just four hits.
Guardians' starting pitcher Tanner Bibby shut out the Tigers by striking out six batters and allowing four hits in 4 2/3 shutout innings.
The Guardians' bullpen took over, and they used four relief pitchers to complete the shutout.
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Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibby reacts after striking out in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers during Game 1 of the ALDS of the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. (Ken Blaze/Imagine Images)
Frye extended the Guardians' lead to 7-0 with a two-run double in the sixth inning, and the score remained there.
After a rough first game, the Tigers will look to turn things around on Monday by sending out ace and AL Cy Young Award winner Tariq Skubal.
Matthew Boyd will start in Game 2, aiming for an overwhelming series lead.
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