Tigers upset Astros in wild-card series; Houston misses ALCS for first time in 8 years

The American League Championship Series has been a Houston Astros invitational since 2016, but it volition look a small antithetic this year.

A red-hot Detroit Tigers squad upset Houston successful the American League Wild Card Series Wednesday with a 5-2 win, sweeping the Astros successful the best-of-three set.

Houston took a 2-1 pb successful the bottommost of the seventh inning aft trailing 1-0 to commencement the frame. However, a Kyle Tucker treble play killed the rally, and the gritty Tigers were backmost astatine it against what whitethorn beryllium the champion backmost extremity of a bullpen successful the sport.

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Detroit Tigers archetypal baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) celebrates with teammates aft scoring a tally against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of Game 2 of the wild-card circular of the 2024 MLB Playoffs astatine Minute Maid Park.  (Thomas Shea/Imagn Images)

With 1 out, Detroit deed back-to-back singles to enactment runners connected the corners, and a Ryan Pressly chaotic transportation tied the game. Pressly allowed a two-out walk, prompting Astros manager Joe Espada to bring successful Josh Hader. However, aft the ascendant person walked his archetypal batter, Andy Ibanez ripped 1 down the left-field line, clearing the bases and putting Detroit up, 5-2.

Detroit went with a afloat bullpen game, and 7 antithetic pitchers took the rubber for the win.

Houston went with Hunter Brown, who tossed 5⅔ innings of one-run ball. Normally, erstwhile you springiness the shot to Pressly and Hader, bully things happen. But Wednesday was a uncommon exception.

The Tigers, sellers astatine the commercialized deadline, finished the play 31-13 successful their last 44 games, clinching the sixth and last spot successful the American League postseason standings. At 1 constituent successful August, they were 11 games backmost of a postseason spot.

Detroit Tigers archetypal baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) slides to people a tally against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of Game 2 of the wild-card circular of the 2024 MLB Playoffs astatine Minute Maid Park. (Thomas Shea/Imagn Images)

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But, for immoderate reason, they support connected winning. Having the apt Cy Young Award victor successful Tarik Skubal doesn't wounded either. He unopen down Houston's lineup with six scoreless innings successful Game 1 Tuesday, and Detroit got its archetypal postseason triumph since 2014. 

That twelvemonth marks the past clip Houston failed to scope the ALDS until Wednesday. Houston's championship bid streak was the 2nd longest successful MLB history, down lone the 8 consecutive made by the Atlanta Braves successful the 1990s.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch besides took down his erstwhile team. Hinch managed the Astros from 2015 to 2019 earlier being fired aft their infamous sign-stealing ungraded came to light.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Will Vest (19) and catcher Jake Rogers (34) observe aft defeating the Houston Astros successful Game 2 of a wild-card bid successful the 2024 MLB Playoffs astatine Minute Maid Park.  (Thomas Shea/Imagn Images)

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It remains to beryllium seen whether Alex Bregman has played his last crippled with the Astros. He volition beryllium a escaped cause aft the season.

Detroit volition person a day with the AL Central rival Cleveland Guardians successful the ALDS. Detroit mislaid that play bid 7-6.

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