Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians: Game Review – September 16, 2025
Final Score: Cleveland Guardians 7, Detroit Tigers 5 (10 innings)
The Cleveland Guardians outlasted the Detroit Tigers in a thrilling extra-inning affair at Comerica Park on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, winning 7-5 in 10 innings before a crowd of 31,639 passionate fans.
Starting Pitchers
Left-hander Joey Cantillo took the mound for Cleveland, delivering a solid performance over five innings. He allowed just one run on four hits while walking two and striking out three, throwing 91 pitches before handing the ball to the bullpen. For Detroit, Casey Mize started and worked 5.1 innings before the Tigers turned to their relief corps.
Game Highlights
The contest featured several momentum shifts, with both teams trading blows throughout. Cleveland struck first with a run in the second inning when C.J. Kayfus hit an RBI single. Detroit’s Gleyber Torres responded in the third with a solo home run, his 16th of the season, to tie the game at 1-1.
Gabriel Arias put the Guardians back on top with a home run in the fourth inning, and Bo Naylor extended Cleveland’s lead to 3-1 with an RBI double in the sixth. The Tigers narrowed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Dillon Dingler grounded into a force out that allowed Riley Greene to score.
Key Moments
The most dramatic moment came in the ninth inning when Tigers manager called upon left-handed slugger Kerry Carpenter as a pinch hitter with two outs. Facing Guardians reliever Cade Smith, Carpenter delivered a clutch game-tying home run—his 26th of the season—sending the Comerica Park crowd into a frenzy.
However, the Guardians responded emphatically in the 10th inning with a historic offensive outburst. Steven Kwan, Angel Martinez, José Ramírez, and Kyle Manzardo combined to hit four consecutive extra-base hits—a feat the franchise hadn’t accomplished in an extra inning since 1961. Gabriel Arias added an RBI single to push Cleveland’s lead to 7-3.
Spencer Torkelson, who had an outstanding night going 4-for-5, blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th to bring Detroit within two, but the comeback fell short as Cleveland closed out the 7-5 victory.
Standout Performances
Spencer Torkelson was the offensive star for Detroit, collecting four hits including his 29th home run of the season. For Cleveland, José Ramírez went 2-for-5 with an RBI double in the decisive 10th inning, while Kyle Manzardo contributed three hits.
On the pitching side, Cade Smith earned the win despite blowing the save, improving to 7-5 on the season. Will Vest took the loss for Detroit, falling to 6-4 after surrendering four runs in the 10th inning.
Comerica Park Atmosphere
The night game at Comerica Park had a playoff-like atmosphere with over 31,000 fans in attendance, many staying until the final out despite the late-inning drama extending the game to 3 hours and 10 minutes. The crowd erupted when Carpenter tied the game in the ninth, only to be silenced by Cleveland’s 10th-inning barrage.
The game had added significance as several players wore number 21 in honor of Roberto Clemente Day, though Tigers rookie pitcher Jackson Jobe, who normally wears that number, was unavailable due to a season-ending flexor injury.
League Implications
This victory was crucial for Cleveland’s playoff hopes, as it marked their 10th win in 11 games and extended their winning streak to five. The Guardians improved to 79-71 and moved to within 2.5 games of Boston for the final AL Wild Card spot.
For the Tigers (85-66), the loss continued a concerning trend, as they’ve now dropped 13 of their last 20 games. Their lead in the AL Central stands at 5.5 games over the Guardians with 11 games remaining in the regular season, including five more against Cleveland. What once seemed like a comfortable division lead is now under serious threat as the season enters its final stretch.
The teams will continue their three-game series on Wednesday with Jack Flaherty (8-13, 4.69 ERA) scheduled to start for Detroit against Cleveland’s Gavin Williams (10-5, 3.16 ERA).
Photos: Glenn Gervais – In Play! magazine
