CLEVELAND (AP) — Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run homer off Cleveland’s All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning, and the Detroit Tigers stunned the Guardians 3-0 Monday in Game 2 to even their AL Division Series in one game to be drawn per piece.

Carpenter connected for a 450-foot, two-out shot off Clase, who had not allowed a run since August 30 and led the American League with 47 saves.

“It’s special to get it done from him,” Carpenter said. “He’s one of the best.”’

Tarik Skubal, a standout from Detroit, pitched seven shutout innings, pushing his postseason total to 13, before the Tigers put together a rare big inning against the nearly unhittable Clase.

The intimidating right-hander has dominated batters all season — he hasn’t recorded a save since May — making just his second multi-inning appearance of 2024.

Jake Rogers and Trey Sweeney hit consecutive two-out singles. Carpenter, who previously entered an inning as a pinch-hitter, turned on Clase’s third straight slider, sending the ball into the right-field seats and shocking Cleveland’s raucous home crowd.

“What about those three two-out hits?” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt had no regrets about using Clase for more than one inning.

“Emmanuel has been locked up all year,” Vogt said. “He’s been almost perfect. He is also human. These things are going to happen, and it’s unfortunate the timing of when that happened, but at the same time he’s going to have the ball back in the ninth.

“This is the best closer in the game for a reason, and they just happened to get him tonight.”

The homer drove in the first runs of the series for the Tigers, who had been finding ways to win for months. Detroit went 31-13 after August 11 to qualify for the postseason and then stunned the AL West champion Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series.

They’re at it again, heading to Comerica Park for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday and Thursday with a chance to advance.

“You come into this environment, on the road, and it’s a five-game series,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “When you get that emotional win and go home 1-1, you feel like you’ve won one on your home field.

“We now have two matches on our site. We know it will be electric. We know Detroit has been waiting a long time for a playoff game. We’ll have a few and a chance to take control of this series.

When Carpenter stepped into the box, the Tigers had a feeling something good was about to happen.

“Kerry comes in there as Kerry Bonds, that’s what you want there,” Rogers said. “He got one low and in the middle of the zone. I had the best view of it and I screamed at the top of my lungs.”

After Skubal had thrown seven innings and winner Will Vest had gotten through the eighth, Beau Brieske threw a perfect ninth for the save.

Skubal was getting a postgame workout when Carpenter homered.

“What a swing,” he said. “I was on the ground and I think that’s the fastest I’ve ever been in my life. What a swing from a very good pitcher, also the best closer in the game. That was incredible to see.”

Skubal, who won the AL pitching triple Crown by leading the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (288), allowed just three hits. The left-hander dominated the Guardians through the first 4 1/3 innings, striking out eight before Josh Naylor doubled with one out in the fifth for Cleveland’s first hit. Skubal then hit rookie Jhonkensy Noel with the left hand.

But the 27-year-old Skubal, who has never pitched a complete game, got Andrés Giménez to bounce into an inning-ending double play and celebrated loudly as he left the mound and headed to the Detroit dugout.

Cleveland also threatened in the sixth.

No. 9 hitter Brayan Rocchio doubled with one out and Kwan singled. Rocchio was held at third and Skubal got out of trouble again when Detroit’s infield turned a nifty 6-4-3 double play, prompting the southpaw to raise his hand and ask the crowd for more applause, like being a conductor orchestra insists on volume.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Guardians: Utilityman Tyler Freeman was replaced on the ALDS roster after suffering an oblique during a swing in a simulated game on Sunday. Freeman, who was replaced by rookie Ángel Martínez, would likely be in the lineup for Game 2. He hit .385 against Detroit this season and knows Skubal well after facing him in the minors.

NEXT

Guardians RHP Alex Cobb will make his first start since September 1 in Game 3. He is sidelined with a middle finger blister and has made just three starts after coming over from San Francisco in July. He will pitch in the postseason for Tampa Bay for the first time since Game 3 of the ALDS in 2013.

Detroit manager AJ Hinch had not announced his starter.

___

APMLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb