In a stunning upset, the Detroit Tigers swept the Houston Astros in their AL Wild Card Series, winning 5-2 in Game 2 on Wednesday. Andy Ibanez delivered a clutch three-run double in the eighth inning, capping a four-run rally that propelled the Tigers to their first postseason series victory since 2013.
Detroit manager A.J. Hinch, who led the Astros to a championship in 2017, savored the sweet revenge. “We’ve been doing this all year, and he was really ready,” Hinch said of Ibanez, who became the first player in Tigers history with a pinch-hit, go-ahead hit in the postseason.
The Tigers, who entered the game 1-22 in the postseason when trailing in the eighth inning or later, will now face the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Division Series. The series begins on Saturday, marking the first-ever postseason meeting between the two teams.
Kerry Carpenter sparked the eighth-inning rally with a single off Ryan Pressly, who had converted his first 14 postseason save opportunities. Carpenter advanced to third on a single by Matt Vierling and scored on a wild pitch, tying the game at 2.
After Pressly departed, closer Josh Hader walked Spencer Torkelson to load the bases, setting the stage for Ibanez’s heroics. Hader, who signed a $95 million contract with Houston in January, allowed three hits and walked two in 1⅓ innings.
The Astros, meanwhile, saw their streak of seven consecutive AL Championship Series appearances come to an end. They were swept in a postseason series for the first time since the 2005 World Series against the White Sox.
Detroit used seven different pitchers to secure the win, with Sean Guenther earning the victory and Will Vest notching the save. Parker Meadows added a solo home run in the sixth to help the Tigers to their first playoff series win since 2013.
The Astros, who lost their seventh straight postseason game at home, failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, relying on hustle plays to manufacture runs in the seventh. Mauricio Dubon’s bunt single loaded the bases, and Jon Singleton’s chopper brought home Victor Caratini to tie the game at 1.
Jose Altuve’s flyball to right field brought home Jeremy Pena, but the Astros’ offense stalled thereafter. Starter Hunter Brown struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings, but was outdueled by the Tigers’ bullpen.
Detroit’s improbable postseason run continues, as they become the fourth team in MLB history to win a playoff series after being 10-plus games back of a playoff spot at least 110 games into the season.
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