Kerry Carpenter's insane game-winning HR helps Tigers avoid replay controversy

Through seven innings of Game 2 of the Tigers-Guardians ALDS, Matthew Boyd, Cleveland's bullpen and, perhaps most notably, their defense, had held Detroit to just five hits and no runs. The Tigers got tantalizingly close to making something happen a few times; in the fifth, Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a fastball from Boyd on a liner to right field, but it was rifled to second second by Jhonkensy Noel who got the outfield assist.

Luckily, the Tigers' pitching and defense had been absolutely nails, too. Tarik Skubal pitched seven innings and struck out eight batters. He got into a couple of jams in the fifth and sixth but was saved by great double plays from Detroit's defense to keep the game scoreless.

In the top of the eighth, with Hunter Gaddis in from the Guardians' bullpen, Matt Vierling hit a double, and then Steven Vogt intentionally walked Riley Greene with two outs and brought in his closer, the fearsome Emmanuel Clase. Wenceel Pérez, who already had a double to his name in the fourth, came up to the plate.

Pérez swung at a cutter on the inside of the plate. It sailed to left-center to apparent no-man's land between Steven Kwan in left and Lane Thomas in center. It was enough to send Vierling home to score the Tigers' first run of the day.

But Kwan has two Gold Gloves for a reason. He dove as the ball plummeted toward the grass and caught it right before it could eat dirt.

But did it hit the ground before he came up with it? AJ Hinch was quick to call for a replay to make sure, which sent things into a tense standstill for a few minutes as the reviewers in New York watched the footage back. It didn't take too long — call on the field stood, inning over.

Tigers avoid controversy with Steven Kwan catch after Kerry Carpenter HR

If that's not ruled a catch on the field, it's not getting overturned on the replay. It appears this was likely the wrong call on the field, but something that didn't possess enough evidence to overrule the umpire's decision.

Will Vest came in to relieve Skubal for the eighth, putting an end to another monumental start for the future unanimous Cy Young winner, and pitched a clean inning. Clase stayed for the top of the eighth and quickly induced two outs — Spencer Torkelson on a swinging strikeout and Parker Meadows on a pop up. But then the Tigers decided to show the fans in Cleveland that their closer will categorically not be this year's AL Cy Young winner.

Jake Rogers and Trey Sweeney got themselves on with back-to-back singles, and then Kerry Carpenter, who'd come in as a pinch hitter in the eighth and popped out, battled to a 2-2 count, fouling off 101 MPH cutters. The sixth pitch he saw was a hanging slider over the center of the plate, which Carpenter pounced on. As soon as it left the bat, he knew it was gone. It was a three-run homer Carpenter, and the game-winner for the Tigers. They'll head back to Detroit with the series tied 1-1 after the 3-0 victory.

We'll see what the Tigers can do at home, but as long as they split, they have Skubal on full rest for Game 5, just how AJ Hinch drew it up. We're just thankful there's no replay controversy dominating the discussion right now. See you on Wednesday.