Tigers avoid elimination, put collapse in rearview as José Ramírez costs Guardians

After Dillon Dingler's go-ahead homer and the Tigers' four-run seventh inning in Game 3 of the Wild Card series, it was Detroit's game to lose. The Guardians had hardly gotten a hit off of their pitching staff all day, and it was just up to the rest of the bullpen to get the nine outs necessary for get the Tigers into the ALDS against the Mariners.

Tommy Kahnle came in for the bottom of the eighth and got his first out easily enough, but then he gave up a single to Brayan Rocchio and a double to Steven Kwan to put runners on the corners before Will Vest was being called out of the bullpen early.

Vest got George Valera to strike out swinging, but José Ramírez was the guy that everyone in the Tigers' pitching staff fears most. Ramírez hit a ground ball to Spencer Torkelson, who tossed to Vest covering first. But Vest couldn't keep the ball in his glove, and it rolled toward the Tigers dugout to allow two runs to score.

But then Ramírez made a fatal mistake. He turned on the afterburners and gunned toward second, but Vest managed to grab the ball and fling it to Javy Báez at second. Ramírez was initially called safe, but it was obvious that Báez had tagged him on the back before he could reach safely.

That play killed the Guardians' momentum, and they went down in order in the ninth to hand the Wild Card victory to the Tigers.

José Ramírez's baserunning gaffes cost Guardians dearly in Wild Card Game 3 as Tigers move on to ALDS

It wasn't the first or even the second time Ramírez made a questionable decision on the base paths. In Game 1, he was caught in a rundown in the bottom of the ninth, spoiling Cleveland's chance at forcing extras or even walking it off. Earlier in Game 3, he was gunned down at second base by Dillon Dingler, who has a cannon of an arm behind home plate.

The Tigers' win over Cleveland was cathartic in so many ways. In their last six games against the Guardians, Detroit went 1-for-6, which allowed Cleveland to tie the AL Central and eventually take it on the very last day of the regular season.

But it wasn't just a huge moment for the rivalry, the offensive outburst signaled that the Tigers' bats might finally be waking up. Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, and Jack Flaherty put up huge starts. The bullpen is still questionable, but they got the job done.

And now they get to face a Mariners team that, while outstanding, will have been sitting for six days by the time the ALDS starts. The Tigers have momentum. Let's keep it rolling.