Guardians blow by Tigers, 7-3, in series-clinching Game 5 to set up epic ALCS matchup with the Yankees

The Cleveland Guardians are into the ALCS after beating the Tigers 7-3 in a pivotal Divisional Series Game 5 on Saturday.

Cleveland, who is looking for its first World Series title since 1948, went two games without a run earlier in the series as the Tigers went to the brink of moving on.

But the Guardians’ bats woke up in Games 4 and 5 – namely Lane Thomas on Saturday – and they advanced following a five-RBI performance from the outfielder.

Cleveland will face the Yankees in the next round.

They last met in 2022, with the Yankees taking their ALDS in five games. Game 1 is Monday in the Bronx.

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas (8) runs the bases after hitting a grand slam in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas (8) runs the bases after hitting a grand slam in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers

Guardians' Jhonkensy Noel, right, celebrates with Brayan Rocchio after the Guardians' win

Guardians’ Jhonkensy Noel, right, celebrates with Brayan Rocchio after the Guardians’ win

It’s the first ALCS appearance for Cleveland since 2016. 

On Saturday, things were tight until a five-run explosion in the fifth inning, which primarily came from a Thomas grand slam.

As has been the case all season, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt leaned on his MLB-best bullpen, which showed some wear and tear.

After Thomas hit his homer, the Tigers threatened in the sixth, scoring a run on a single by Jake Rogers and loading the bases with two outs. But Hunter Gaddis struck out Kerry Carpenter, who won Game 2 with a three-run homer in the ninth.

The Tigers, though, kept clawing and closed to 5-3 on Colt Keith’s one-out RBI double in the seventh. Eli Morgan came in for Cleveland and struck out both batters he faced.

The Guardians are looking for their first World Series title since 1948, and will have to go through the Yankees next to get there

The Guardians are looking for their first World Series title since 1948, and will have to go through the Yankees next to get there

Guardians players, from rear left, David Fry, Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez greet teammate  Thomas after his grand slam

Guardians players, from rear left, David Fry, Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez greet teammate  Thomas after his grand slam

The ALCS will begin on Monday, with the Yankees hosting the Guardians in the Bronx

The ALCS will begin on Monday, with the Yankees hosting the Guardians in the Bronx

Runs were later added by Cleveland in the seventh and eighth innings to give them some breathing room and Emmanuel Clase ultimately got the save.

The Guardians had to take down Tarik Skubal, the front-runner for the AL Cy Young Award, to keep their season going.

The left-hander had not given up a run in 24 consecutive innings – 17 in this postseason – before the Guardians tagged him in the fifth for five runs, tying the most he allowed in 2024.

The Guardians have made it to MLB’s last four despite having just the 24th-highest payroll in the league this season at about $129million, per Spotrac.

The Yankees, Mets and Dodgers have all spent more than $320million.

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