CLEVELAND (AP) — Five batters in, the Tigers were down 5-0 and finished. For the first time in months, Detroit didn't look baseball's hottest team or like it belonged anywhere near the playoffs. Manager A.
J. Hinch's decision to not use a traditional starter in Game 1 of the AL Division Series backfired as Tyler Holton failed to record an out and reliever Reese Olson gave up a three-run homer to Lane Thomas in the first inning a s the Cleveland Guardians rolled to a 7-0 win. The Tigers came in feeling confident after going 31-13 since Aug.
11 to earn a postseason berth before sweeping AL West champion Houston in the wild-card round. But a horrific start — set up by third baseman Zach McKinstry’s fielding error in the first — led to Detroit being handed its worst shutout loss since Game 1 of the 1945 World Series. “When they punch you with five in the first, it’s hard to overcome,” Hinch said.
“I thought Holton rarely gives up back-to-back anything, let alone like guys getting on base. And we never recovered.” The Tigers had a chance to land the first blow, but they stranded two runners in the first against Cleveland’s Tanner Bibee.
The Guardians pounced. Steven Kwan led off with double off the wall in right and Holton walked David Fry. José Ramírez followed with a grounder down the line that caught McKinstry in between hops, got past him and allowed Kwan to score.
McKinstry blamed himself and the grounds crew. “I tried to make a play and I didn’t --.