Matt Vierling’s net gem prevents Tigers’ pitching changes from skyrocketing in Game 3 win

The Tigers sent rookie starter Keider Montero to the mound for the first postseason appearance of his career in Game 3 against the Guardians, but he was denied a traditionally long start with the way AJ Hinch handled his pitchers (Tarik only). managed, certainly not guaranteed Skubal gets this privilege).

In fact, Montero was more of an opener than a starter, throwing a quick inning before being replaced by Brant Hurter, who took a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI single from Riley Greene. Hurter got into a little trouble in the third when he gave up a base hit to Steven Kwan, which was extended into a double on an error by Trey Sweeney. Afterwards, Hinch decided to give José Ramírez a free base to put up two. But Josh Naylor singled to end the inning and keep Detroit in the lead.

Matt Vierling scored another run with a sac fly in the third, Hurter got through the fourth easily and was then subbed out in the fifth after allowing back-to-back singles with one out. Beau Brieske, one of the brightest lights in the Tigers’ dominant bullpen, finished the game with a strikeout and a fly out.

Brieske made it through the sixth unscathed, causing Jhonkensy Noel to get a strikeout early in the inning. The Guardians sent a pinch-hitter in Angel Martínez, a switch-hitter, and Hinch went back to his bullpen to work matchups, calling out lefty Sean Guenther.

And that’s when things started to get dicey.

The Tigers gain an edge over the Guardians in the ALDS with a Game 3 win thanks to a big play from Matt Vierling that saves the day for Sean Guenther

Guenther got pinch-hitter Martínez to groundout, but then he walked Brayan Rocchio and Kwan to bring in two hitters with two outs. The Tigers were ahead by three runs at that point thanks to an RBI double by Spencer Torkelson (first hit of the postseason), but David Fry had a chance to spoil the game.

Günther was rightly taken out and Fry prevailed against Will Vest. Fry took a changeup above the zone and hit it well; It sailed toward left field and appeared to have enough room to clear Vierling’s head in the third.

But Vierling said, “Not today,” and jumped into the air, fully extending him to hold him and keep him from touching the grass in the outfield. Inning over.

The Guardians never came so close to a scoring opportunity again. Vest stayed for the eighth time before substituting Tyler Holton to end the game. Holton sent the Guardians back in order and his final out was a perfect three-pitch strikeout against Austin Hedges.

The Tigers officially lead 2-1 in the series with one game remaining at Comerica. The crowd was absolutely loud on Wednesday afternoon, and the Guardians have now gone 20 straight postseason innings without scoring. Let’s keep it up on Thursday, shall we? Winning in front of your home crowd would be something different.