Guardians soar past Tigers and forge AL Central tie

Gavin Williams posted a career-high-tying 12 strikeouts and Daniel Schneemann drove in two runs Tuesday as the host Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers to forge a tie atop the American League Central.

The Guardians and Tigers both have 85-72 records with five games remaining in the season. With the win, Cleveland secured the tiebreaker between the two teams.

Cleveland is an MLB-best 17-5 in September and has won 11 of 12. Detroit, which was up 10 games on Sept. 6, has gone 5-14 this month while losing seven straight and 10 of 11. The Tigers had been alone atop the division since April 23.

Williams (12-5) allowed two runs on four hits and walked only two to outduel Tigers ace Tarik Skubal (13-6), who gave up three runs on four hits while fanning eight and walking three.

Coming into the game, Williams had not allowed a run in his last 20 innings against the Tigers dating back to July 25, 2024. Williams combined with three other Cleveland pitchers to strike out 19.

Detroit ended Williams' scoreless streak in the third inning when Wenceel Perez's double scored Zach McKinstry. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning, but back-to-back strikeouts by Williams ended the threat.

Riley Greene gave Detroit a 2-0 lead in the sixth when he hammered his 35th home run.

The Guardians took a 3-2 lead in the sixth without hitting the ball out of the infield. After Steven Kwan and Angel Martinez bunted their way on base -- and a Skubal throwing error advanced them into scoring position -- Jose Ramirez singled Kwan home. In the following at-bat, David Fry squared to bunt Skubal's 99-mph heater and fouled it off his face. He was taken off on a cart and taken to Lutheran Medical Center in Cleveland.

With George Valera pinch-hitting for Fry, a Skubal wild pitch allowed Angel Martinez to score from third. After a Skubal balk moved Ramirez to third, the Guardians went in front on Gabriel Arias' groundout.

Schneemann's single in the seventh added the Guardians' final two runs.

--Field Level Media