Matt Vierling’s impressive performance, including a home run and three RBIs, helped the Detroit Tigers secure a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday night. Pitcher Reese Olson continued his strong form, improving to 3-0 with a 2.40 ERA in his last five starts by allowing three runs on six hits over six innings. Detroit claimed its fifth win in six games.
In the ninth inning, the Tigers maintained a 5-3 lead, but Alex Faedo faced difficulties, issuing two walks and a wild pitch, allowing the Guardians to bring the tying runs into scoring position. Despite Andrés Giménez’s sacrifice fly making it 5-4, the Tigers’ defense shone with a crucial play as Jason Foley replaced Faedo and got Tyler Freeman out at first, ultimately securing his 15th save.
Tanner Bibee pitched for the Guardians, giving up four runs on five hits over seven innings but faced challenges against the Tigers with a 0-3 record and a 6.98 ERA in four starts. Detroit took an early lead as Colt Keith’s RBI triple and Vierling’s sacrifice fly put them ahead 2-0 in the first inning, though Angel Martínez responded with a two-run double to tie the game in the third.
Vierling’s two-run homer in the third inning gave the Tigers a 4-2 lead, met by Daniel Schneemann’s solo home run in the fourth. Andy Ibáñez extended Detroit’s lead to 5-3 with a pinch-hit home run in the eighth.
The game saw a 10-minute delay in the fourth inning when home plate umpire Jansen Visconti exited after being struck by a foul tip, with David Arrieta taking over. The match continued with Arrieta enduring another foul tip in the ninth.
The series will conclude on Thursday with Guardians’ Spencer Howard facing off against Tigers’ Jack Flaherty, with both teams scheduled to meet ten times in July.