Guardians vs. Tigers score: Detroit avenges AL Central meltdown, ousts Cleveland to advance to ALDS

The Guardians were able to overcome an historic deficit to overtake the Tigers and win the AL Central during the regular season, but the Tigers will be the ones who advance onward in MLB's postseason. Detroit took Thursday's decisive Game 3 by a 6-3 final, punching their ticket to the ALDS and eliminating the Guardians in the process.

Most of the game's action was contained in the final four innings, as the two sides were tied entering the sixth. That's when Detroit catcher Dillon Dingler homered to break the deadlock. The Tigers would score four more times in the seventh, with Wenceel Pérez, Spencer Torkelson, and Riley Greene combining for three hits and all four runs batted in. Just like that, the Tigers had a 6-1 lead with just nine outs left to record.

The Guardians did manage to plate a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth, cutting the deficit to 6-3. But the Tigers were able to shut down the comeback attempt without Cleveland ever bringing the tying run to the plate.

The Tigers will advance to the ALDS to play the Mariners. That series will begin on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Seattle.

The Guardians, meanwhile, will begin their offseason tomorrow. 

To the bottom of the ninth!

José Ramírez hit what should have been the inning-ending ground out to first base, but Spencer Torkelson's flip to Will Vest at first base was wide. Two runs scored on the play to give Cleveland some life.

Ramírez tried to advance to second and was tagged out (the call was overturned on replay), it should be noted. The inning is over. That's a break for the Tigers and tough one for the Guardians, who need the baserunner more than the extra 90 feet. Replay showed Ramírez looked back at the play and it slowed him down a bit. Costly, that was.

Vest threw 10 pitches. He'll have at least a three-run lead in the ninth. The Guards are down to their final three outs.

We head to the ninth.

Kwan doubles and the Guards have runners on second and third with one out, and the 2-3-4 hitters coming up. Pretty much now or never for them. Will Vest coming in. Either he'll get a five-put save, or someone else will record the final out. Paul Sewald maybe?

Tommy Kahnle is coming in to pitch the eighth. The Tigers are six outs away from playing the Mariners in the ALDS.

This is the first time the Tigers have scored more than five runs in a game since Sept. 10.

It's now 6-1 Tigers. Not Hunter Gaddis' day.

He was moved to the three hole for this game, and that decision by A.J. Hinch just paid off in the form of a two-run single to right field. Take a look:

It's now 4-1 Detroit.

Meadows just beat out a bunt. Runners at the corners with nobody out. Golden opportunity for the Tigers to add insurance runs.

Báez with a leadoff double here in the seventh. Fifth hit of the series for him.

Tigers are nine outs away from the ALDS. 

Dillon Dingler just teed off on a Joey Cantillo changeup, pulling it into the left-field seats for a home run. Here's a look:

The Tigers now lead 2-1 in this winner-take-all Game 3.

Flaherty is back for the fifth, but Tigers have action in the bullpen.

Nifty double play by Rocchio, the hero of yesterday's game, to end the top of the fifth.

Whenever I see a close up of Joey Cantillo's face I always think "hey, he kind of looks like Matt Moore." 

The Tigers had done a nice job of containing Ramírez in the first two games. There, he went down and got a breaking ball below the zone. Tied game.

Valera homered yesterday to give Cleveland an early lead. He doubles here to lead off the bottom of the fourth, again trying to give Cleveland's offense life.

Guardians on their third pitcher of the game here in the fourth. It's Joey Cantillo, who moved into the rotation over the summer and pitched quite well. He'll try to keep the deficit at one.

Nice play by McKinstry to put a bow on that inning.

Kerry Carpenter hits a ball to first that gets off C.J. Kayfus' glove. It's 1-0.

Tigers have been very careful with Ramírez. Only one hit through two games. Bunch of walks. 

Flaherty hasn't matched last year's resurgence. He's basically a three-pitch pitcher against both hands: fastball, curveball, slider. Notably, his fastball wasn't as effective this year … perhaps in part because of reduced velocity and a straighter shape.

Cecconi is aleady up over 25 pitches in the first inning. 

You have to love baseball. Cecconi threw fewer than 60 cutters all regular season. He just threw four in his first at-bat of the postseason. 

We're underway as Cecconi delivers a first-pitch ball to Gleyber Torres.

I said last night on CBS Sports HQ, if you told me Flaherty would go out and deal today I wouldn't be surprised. I also wouldn't be surprised if you told me he was gonna have a total meltdown and not get out of the first inning.

The Guardians obtained Cecconi last offseason in the Josh Naylor trade. He's turned into a legitimate mid-rotation starter by backing off his four-seamer and adding a sinker to combat righties. He also upped his curveball usage against lefties, something that makes sense given that verticality tends to win the day when it comes to opposite-handed batters.

Chase DeLauter made his big-league debut yesterday, becoming the sixth player to first appear in the playoffs. Today, he's batting fifth for a team that badly, badly needs some support behind José Ramírez.

1. Steven Kwan, LF
2. George Valera, RF
3. José Ramírez, 3B
4. Kyle Manzardo, DH
5. Chase DeLauter, CF
6. Gabriel Arias, SS
7. Bo Naylor, C
8. C.J. Kayfus, 1B
9. Brayan Rocchio, 2B