Dillon Dingler’s first career postseason hit was long-awaited, but it couldn’t have come at a better time for his Detroit Tigers — or in a better place for the 27-year-old Massillon, Ohio, native.
Dingler, a 2020 second-round pick out of Ohio State who didn’t make his MLB debut until last season, began the AL wild-card series against the Cleveland Guardians 0-for-9 at the plate.
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Then, in one swing on Thursday at Cleveland’s Progressive Field, the catcher collected not only his first postseason hit but also his first postseason home run and RBI.
Dingler, two innings removed from throwing out a steal-hungry José Ramírez, delivered a 401-foot solo shot to left-center that gave Detroit a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth. His blast broke a tie and the dam holding back a flood of Tigers’ offense, which came through for four more runs in the next inning.
After leaving 15 runners on base in a Game 2 defeat, Detroit recorded more hits with runners in scoring position in the top of the seventh inning Thursday than it had all series, en route to a 6-3 victory.
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The Tigers lost a 15.5-game July lead in the AL Central, which the Guardians pried away from Detroit over the final week of the regular season to complete the largest divisional comeback in MLB history.
But while Cleveland won the division, Detroit is the team advancing to the division series. The Tigers will next face the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS beginning Saturday.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Guardians threatened a rally like the five-run surge they orchestrated in the same frame the day before.
Fittingly, Brayan “Playoff Rocchio” sparked Cleveland’s offense for the second game in a row, this time with a one-out single. All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan followed with a double to right.
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Then Detroit manager A. J. Hinch called on closer Will Vest, who got right fielder George Valera looking before an uncharacteristic hiccup from the righty hurler allowed two runs to score.
On a would-be groundout to first from Ramírez, Vest ran to the bag for the inning-ending putout. But he couldn’t bring in the throw from Spencer Torkelson. It popped off his glove, and Ramírez rounded first as both Rocchio and Kwan raced home.
But Ramírez didn’t reach second in time, as Vest redeemed himself with a feed to All-Star Javier Báez, who tagged Ramírez out for the second time in the elimination game, ending the frame and keeping the Tigers’ 6-3 lead intact.
In the bottom of the ninth, Vest expertly fielded a comebacker as he retired the Guardians 1-2-3 to seal the series victory and advance Detroit to the ALDS.
Both teams entered Game 3 batting below .200 in this wild-card series. Runs were coming at a premium, and it was no different for the first six innings of the winner-take-all matchup.
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After Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi gave up a pair of ground-ball singles in the top of the third, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt turned to the bullpen, where he ultimately tapped seven additional arms. Vogt’s first call was lefty Tim Herrin.
With runners on first and third, Kerry Carpenter sent a sinker down the first-base line. Cleveland’s C.J. Kayfus got a glove on it, except he couldn’t control its tough hop. One run scored, and Carpenter advanced to second on a double. Herrin escaped the jam, but the Tigers’ one-run lead felt commanding given the teams’ recent offensive shortcomings.
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Cleveland tied things up in the bottom of the fourth, when Ramírez hit an RBI single off Detroit starter Jack Flaherty. It bounced past Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres into right-center field, scoring Valera from second.
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Dingler’s homer in the sixth ended the 1-1 deadlock when he lifted a changeup from Guardians lefty Joey Cantillo, who pitched 2 2/3 innings before the long ball chased him.
The Tigers’ four-run spurt in the seventh featured three straight RBI singles from right fielder Wenceel Pérez, Torkelson and left fielder Riley Greene. It all started with a double from Báez and a bunt single from center fielder Parker Meadows. After a Torres groundout, Carpenter was then intentionally walked to load the bases.
Detroit’s breakout inning in Cleveland, funnily enough, resulted from the Tigers playing what could be dubbed “Guards Ball.”
Dingler said afterward that the Tigers’ series victory over their AL Central rivals was satisfying. Not only did Cleveland take the division from Detroit this season, but last season, the Guardians dashed the Tigers’ ALCS hopes in gut-wrenching fashion in a winner-take-all ALDS Game 5.
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On Thursday in Cleveland, Detroit’s victory was gritty not pretty, and Dingler epitomized that with his power-charged, drought-ending swing.
“It was awesome,” he said postgame, via the ESPN broadcast. “I had been scratching and clawing a little bit this series, and to be able to put my team ahead in that moment was very special.”
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