Additional Coverage:
- Ibáñez’s big hit lifts Tigers to 5-2 win over Astros and sweep in AL Wild Card Series (nbcsports.com)
In a thrilling Wild Card Series, the Detroit Tigers swept the Houston Astros 5-2 in Game 2, ending Houston’s seven-year run in the AL Championship Series.
Andy Ibáñez’s clutch three-run double in the eighth inning proved decisive, sparking a four-run rally for Detroit. This victory was especially sweet for Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who led Houston to a championship in 2017 before being fired amid the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.
The Tigers will now face the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians in a best-of-five AL Division Series. Detroit’s success in this series is a testament to Hinch’s leadership and the team’s strong finish to the regular season.
The Astros, despite being the AL West champions, struggled to generate offense at home and lost their seventh consecutive postseason game there. Hunter Brown’s strong start was not enough to overcome Detroit’s late surge.
This Wild Card Series marks the eighth sweep out of the first nine in its history and the fourth for the Tigers in postseason play. Detroit’s last playoff series win came in the 2013 ALDS.