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Former Virginia Tech outfielder blasts game-winning 3-run homer in Game 2 of ALDS

Kerry Carpenter's ninth-inning home run for the Tigers evened their ALDS series with Cleveland at a game apiece.

By Scott Roche

Oct 7, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (30) celebrates with catcher Jake Rogers (34) and shortstop Trey Sweeney (27) after hitting a three run home run during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during game two of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Oct 7, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter (30) celebrates with catcher Jake Rogers (34) and shortstop Trey Sweeney (27) after hitting a three run home run during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians during game two of the ALDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images / David Richard-Imagn Images
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One of the hottest teams going into the Major League Baseball postseason is the Detroit Tigers. They went into Houston last week and swept the Astros in the AL Wild Card best-of-three-seires to get a date with the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series.

On Saturday, Cleveland struck first in Game 1 with a 7-0 victory. Former Virginia Tech outfielder Kerry Carpenter went 1-for-4 in the game for the Tigers. Monday afternoon in Game 2, he was not in the starting lineup for Detroit.

In the top of the eighth inning, manager AJ Hinch had Justyn-Henry Malloy batting leadoff as the designated hitter. He struck out, but that wasn't his final at-bat in the game. He saved his best for last in the top of the ninth inning.

Kerry Carpenter launches game-winning 3-run homer in the top of the 9th

Scoreless in the top of the ninth and facing Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who can run it up there over 100 miles per hour, the Tigers had the first two batters retired before Jake Rogers and Trey Sweeney had back-to-back singles. Up stepped Carpenter and the former Hokie worked the count and eventually delivered a three-run home run to deep right field off a slider for a 3-0 lead.

Beau Brieske shut down Cleveland in the home half of the ninth to secure the Tigers' win and evening the best-of-five-series up at 1-1 heading back to Detroit for Games 3 and 4 Wednesday and Thursday. According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, Carpenter's blast was the first go-ahead HR in the 9th inning or later in a postseason game since Magglio Ordonez sent them to the World Series in 2006 with his walkoff HR in the ALCS. October baseball!

It has not been the best season in terms of health for Carpenter as he battled back and shoulder injuries which limited him to just 87 regular season games, but he is healthy and ready for what he hopes is a long postseason run for him and his teammates.

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