Alan Kornspan
Believeland Media
The Cleveland Guardians got their 2024 playoffs off to a great start as they defeated the Detroit Tigers, 7-0, in game one of the American League Division Series.
After the game, in the post-game press conference, Guardians manager Steven Vogt talked about getting his first playoff victory.
"I think it's great for our guys with the five days off," said Vogt.
"They worked really hard over the course of this week to stay ready, and for us to be able to come out and jump on them in the first, it was just a huge day for all of our guys."
As Vogt mentioned, after holding the Detroit Tigers to a scoreless top of the first inning, the Guardians wasted no time in taking a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in front of a loud, sold out crowd.
The Guardians scored their first run when Jose Ramirez got on base on a 2-base error which scored Steven Kwan from second base.
Then, Josh Naylor singled to right field to drive in David Fry from third base to give the Guardians a 2-0 lead.
The Guardians scored three more runs in the first inning on a 3-run home run by Lane Thomas to take a 5-0 lead into the second i
nning.
Thomas hit the first pitch of the at bat, an 85 mph slider low and away, 394 feet over the left center field wall.
After the game, Lane said that he had faced the same pitcher earlier in the season so he had an idea of what pitch to look for.
"I had faced him earlier on in the season before I got here," said Lane.
"And I thought in that situation that I was either going to get a fastball kind of in off the plate or something soft that I could hit in the air and at least score that run from third. So I kind of picked one or the other and got the one I was looking for and put a good swing on it."
Guardians manager Steven Vogt said that getting those five runs in the first inning were helpful in order to help the Guardians build monentum and give the pitching staff a cushion to work with.
"Kwan goes out and sets the tone, and then it just worked from there," said Vogt in discussing the Guardians five run first inning.
"David worked an outstanding walk. We get the error, and Josh comes through with a huge first and third situation -- or second and third, sorry. Gets the base hits, executes with a runner on third less than two, and Lane with the big blast."
"So, it was huge to get those runs on the board and kind of get some momentum and give Tanner some breathing room to go out and pitch well."
In addition to a great start at the dish, Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee threw an excellent four and two thirds of an inning as he struck out 6 Tigers batters, and only allowed 4 hits.
Cleveland Guardians manager, Steven Vogt, then brought in Cade Smith to get the final out of the 5th inning.
In the post-game press conference, Vogt was asked about taking out Bibbee early in the game.
"I think, you know, obviously the way the game went, we wanted to use our guys, nobody's pitched in a week, and you don't want to let that game get away," said Vogt.
"I mean, anybody in our bullpen we feel really confident about, but when you have the opportunity with a day off tomorrow, you're going to use your guys to finish the game."
"And to their credit, I mean they got, what, four and a third, and none of them were overextended with their pitch count. It was just really impressive the job that those four guys did."
Tanner Bibee, who, pitched a great game, certainly understood Vogt's rationale for bringing in a reliever with two outs in the fifth inning.
"I always want to stay out there," said Bibbee. "But, 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 being brought in to relieve Bibee, Smith then promptly struck out four batters he faced.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, after being held scoreless since the first, the Guardians added two additional runs.
On the eighth pitch of David Fry's at bat in the sixth inning, he doubled to left field to drive in Kwan from second and Noel from first to give the Guardians a 7-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Steven Vogt brought in Tim Herrin who retired the side in order, while striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Smith (1.92 ERA) and Herrin (1.91 ERA) both had great regular seasons out of the Guardians bullpen.
Guardians manager Steven Vogt called for the bullpen in the top of the eighth as Hunter Gaddis was brought in to relieve Herrin.
Although a different member of the Guardians bullpen was brought in, the same results were achieved. Gaddis, who had a 1.57 regular season ERA, got a fly out and a double play to end the eighth inning.
Guardians star closer, Emmanuel Clase closed out the ninth inning as the Guardians took game one of this best of five American League Division Series, 7-0.
The Guardians and Tigers next meet on Monday afternoon at Progressive Field with the pitch scheduled for 4:08pm.
In Game 2, the Guardians will face the odds on favorite to win the CY Young Award, Tigers Pitcher Tarik Skubal who was 18-4, with a 2.39 ERA this season.
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