****

The Cleveland Guardians' determined offensive play paid off once again in Game 5 of the ALDS, securing a 7-3 victory against the Detroit Tigers and booking their place in the ALCS. Lane Thomas, with his bold approach at the plate, was pivotal in this triumph. On the first pitch he faced from Tigers' starter Tarik Skubal in the bottom of the fifth inning, Thomas launched a grand slam, turning the game around for Cleveland.

Reflecting on his crucial hit, Thomas remarked, "He threw one pitch over the middle, and I put a good swing on it. It's as simple as that." This moment came after Skubal had successfully quieted the Guardians' offense for four innings, accumulating 17 scoreless innings in the postseason until then.

The unraveling for the Tigers began with singles from Andrés Giménez, Steven Kwan, and David Fry, loading the bases. José Ramírez then tied the game 1-1 after being hit by a pitch. This set the stage for Thomas, who had a history of success with first pitches, particularly during the regular season where he hit .286 with a home run and 9 RBIs in such scenarios.

Manager Stephen Vogt praised the team’s resilience, saying, "That's who we are. As soon as we get punched, we answer." He emphasized the balanced nature of their offense, combining home runs with sustained offensive pressure to build their lead further.

Despite the setback, Detroit posed a threat in the sixth inning. They narrowed the gap to 5-2 with a Jake Rogers single and had bases loaded. However, Guardians' reliever Hunter Gaddis managed to strike out Kerry Carpenter, who had earlier given the Tigers a 1-0 lead with a pinch-hit single in the fifth inning.

The Tigers managed to score one more run in the seventh, cutting the lead to 5-3, but Cleveland responded with additional runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Closer Emmanuel Clase delivered a stellar performance, recording the final six outs and securing the Guardians' advancement.

In his postgame remarks, Tigers manager AJ Hinch expressed his pride despite the loss, acknowledging the team's valiant effort against a strong opponent. "I have a heartbroken team for all the right reasons," Hinch stated. He encouraged his players to use this experience as motivation for future success.

With this victory, Cleveland heads to the ALCS for the first time since 2016. They will face the Yankees in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium on Monday. As Vogt put it, "You have to believe. If you don't believe in your group, don't even show up."