Brayan Rocchio saves Guardians season with go-ahead home run in win over Tigers 

With one swing in the eighth inning of the Guardians’ Game 2 matchup against the Tigers, Brayan Rocchio erased 17+ innings of postseason frustration. 

After barely being able to get anything going against Tigers pitching in the first game-and-a-half of the Wild Card Series, Rocchio's go-ahead home run helped give the Cleveland the lead in their eventual 6-1 over the Tigers to force a deciding Game 3.

Brayan Rocchio plays hero for Guardians once again 

While the Guardians had already clinched the American League Central by the time Brayan Rocchio mashed his walk-off home run in the Guardians’ season finale, it provided one last signature moment that capped off the Guardians’ run toward the AL Central crown. 

It turns out that home run was just the appetizer for a Rocctober to remember. 

Rocchio’s homer came on an 0-2 fastball that Detroit pitcher Troy Melton left directly over the heart of the plate. 

While he hit just .233 in the regular season, Rocchio was one of the Guardians’ best hitters across the second half of the season. After hitting just .165 through the first 35 games of the season, Rocchio was sent down to Triple-A to work on his timing at the plate.

He was called up at the beginning of July after an injury to Gabriel Arias before shifting over to second after Arias returned. And, against all odds, he found success. Rocchio hit better than .260 in July and August and quickly morphed into Cleveland’s everyday second baseman. 

It also helps that he seems to turn it on when the lights are brightest. After hitting .333 in 10 games last postseason, he added a huge go-ahead home run to his résumé on Wednesday. 

Rocchio’s homer ended up setting the stage for a huge eighth inning, as Daniel Schneemann added on an RBI double that was quickly followed by a three-run home run from Bo Naylor. 

The Guardians took an early lead in the second inning on a solo home run from George Valera, who got the start in right field against Tigers right-hander Casey Mize.

After only having one hit reach the outfield on Tuesday, the Guardians crushed three balls out of the park on Wednesday. 

It looked like the Tigers were set to take the lead against the Guardians in the top of the fourth when Javier Báez hit a single up the middle with the bases loaded, but Chase DeLauter came up firing and was able to throw Zach McKinstry out at third base to end the inning before the second run crossed the plate. 

While Tanner Bibee wasn’t as good as Gavin Williams was in Game 1, he still did a good job keeping Detroit’s lineup in check, as he scattered five hits and three walks across 4 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. 

He was pulled after allowing a two out walk to Spencer Torkleson to move a runner to second base, and Erik Sabrowski ended the threat by getting Riley Greene to line out to center field. 

The Tigers put runners on base in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but the Guardians’ bullpen was able to dance around the traffic in every inning. 

The greatest escape came in the seventh inning when TIm Herrin entered with two runners on and one out and was able to wiggle out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts. 

While Cade Smith wasn’t as sharp as he usually is, he ended the game by getting Dillon Dingler to line out with the bases loaded.

Now the Guardians will send Slade Cecconi out tomorrow with a chance to move on to the American League Division Series. After yesterday's lethargic performance, that's all you can ask for.