Matt Vierling web gem prevents Tigers pitching change from spiraling in Game 3 win

The Tigers put rookie starter Keider Montero on the mound for the first postseason outing of his career in Game 3 against the Guardians, but he certainly wasn't guaranteed a traditionally long start with the way that AJ Hinch has been managing his pitchers (only Tarik Skubal gets that privilege).

Sure enough, Montero was more of an opener than a starter, pitching one quick inning before being replaced by Brant Hurter, who came in enjoying a 1-0 lead thanks to a Riley Greene RBI single. Hurter got into a little trouble in the third, when he gave up a base hit to Steven Kwan that was stretched into a double on an error by Trey Sweeney. After that, Hinch decided to give José Ramírez a free base to put two on. But Josh Naylor grounded out to end the inning and keep Detroit ahead.

Matt Vierling tacked on another run with a sac fly in the third, Hurter got through the fourth easily, and then he was replaced 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 it off with a strikeout and fly out.

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

And that's when things started to get dicey.

Tigers gain edge over Guardians in ALDS with Game 3 win courtesy of a great Matt Vierling play to save Sean Guenther's day

Guenther got the pinch hitter Martínez to ground out, but then he walked Brayan Rocchio and Kwan to put two men on with two outs. The Tigers were up by three run at that point, thanks to an RBI double from Spencer Torkelson (first hit of the postseason), but David Fry had the chance to spoil it.

Guenther was rightfully yanked, and Fry settled in against Will Vest. Fry swung at a changeup above the zone and hit it well; it sailed toward left field and looked like it had enough room to clear Vierling's head at third.

But Vierling said "not today," and he leapt into the air, fully extending to snag it down and keep it from hitting the outfield grass. Inning over.

The Guardians never got that close to a scoring opportunity again. Vest stayed for the eighth before subbing out with Tyler Holton to close the game. Holton sent the Guardians back down in order, and his last out was a perfect three-pitch strikeout on Austin Hedges.

The Tigers officially lead 2-1 in this series with one game left to go at Comerica. The crowd on Wednesday afternoon was absolutely raucous, and the Guardians have now gone 20 straight postseason innings without scoring. Let's keep that going on Thursday, shall we? Clinching in front of the home crowd would be something else.