Fry's 2-run homer puts the Rangers over the Tigers, forcing an ALDS Game 5

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DETROIT (AP) – Pinch hitter David Fry scored with two runs in the seventh inning and then scored an insurance run in the ninth inning, helping the Cleveland Guardians to a decisive Game 5 against the Detroit Tigers in their AL Division Series with a 5-4 victory on Thursday evening.

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Cleveland ended an 11-game losing streak in postseason qualifying games dating back to Game 6 of the 1997 World Series.

The fifth game will be Saturday in Cleveland, with ace Tarik Skubal starting for the Tigers. The winner will advance to the ALCS on Monday against the New York Yankees or Kansas City Royals.

Fry said the Rangers' resilience was no surprise.

“We showed all year long that's who these guys are,” he said. “We have a group of tough guys. We lose 2-1 and we sit in the locker room as if it was just another day. We come ready to play and try to win. And let's win the fifth game.”

On the verge of advancing to the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2013, the Tigers erased a 2-1 deficit when Zach McKinstry scored in the fifth over Tanner Bibee and Wenceel Perez scored in the sixth.

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Beau Brieske pitched scoreless for 5 1/2 innings over four postseason appearances before Fry, batting for Kyle Manzardo, hit a fastball off the sign between the two bullpens in left field for Cleveland's second-ever pinch-homer Hank Majeski in game four of the 1954 World Series.

That calmed the 44,923 fans who set a playoff attendance record at 25-year-old Comerica Park for the second day in a row.

Emmanuel Clase retired five batters, maintaining a 4-3 lead in the eighth, when he avoided a jam in the second and third innings by striking out Trey Sweeney on a 160.9 mph cutter after the batter's helmet came off.

Fry's bunt brought home Brayan Rocchio in the ninth to extend the lead, which proved important.

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Pinch hitter Justyn-Henry Malloy doubled the lead in the ninth, advanced on a grounder by Parker Meadows and scored on a grounder by Jace Jung.

Clase, who gave up three runs to Kerry Carpenter in the ninth inning after trailing 3-0 in Game 2, was saved by Matt Vierling, who was unable to check his swing.

Lane Thomas ended the Guardians' 20-inning scoreless streak with two RBI outs in the first game of Reese Olson, who had not allowed a run in the first inning of 22 regular-season starts

Sweeney made a sacrifice fly in the second quarter and Jose Ramirez put Cleveland ahead on a loss to Tyler Holton in the fifth inning, ending an 0 skid at 1-0.

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LHP Matthew Boyd is expected to start Game 5 for the Guardians, whose last Game 5 ended in a loss to the Yankees in the 2022 ALCS.

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