CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland's brutish bullpen lived up to its billing. After dominating for months, the Guardians' relievers opened October with another hitless, strike-throwing, fear-inducing, intimidating performance in a 7-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday in Game 1 of the AL Division Series. Right now, there is nothing more dangerous in the big leagues.
The Tigers got exactly what they expected. “I thought they were going to use their big boys at the end,” Detroit manager A.J.
Hinch said, “and they ended up doing it.” The Guardians' bullpen, which led the majors in ERA and virtually every statistical category, combined for 4 1/3 hitless innings after starter Tanner Bibee held the Tigers without a run on four hits. Once Bibee was lifted by manager Stephen Vogt, rookie Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis and closer Emmanuel Clase, who led the league with 47 saves and hasn't blown one in 34 straight chances, since May, took it from there.
The Guardians matched the largest shutout in postseason history. Although Bibee would have liked to pitch deeper in his first playoff start, he had no qualms about handing the ball to Vogt. “I always want to stay out there,” Bibee said.
“I mean, it’s postseason. I totally get it. With how good our 'pen has been, I get it.
It makes sense. Obviously I want to stay out there as long as possible, but I get it.” After Bibee gave up a two-out single in the fifth, Vogt brought in Smith, a flame-throwing right-hander wh.