Lane Thomas might have just sent the Guardians to the American League Championship Series with one swing.
The Cleveland outfielder launched a massive grand slam off Tigers ace Tarik Skubal during the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Guardians up 5-1 in the deciding Game 5 against Detroit.
The long ball came one pitch after Skubal hit Guardians star Jose Ramirez in the arm with a pitch, bringing in the first and tying run for Cleveland.
Skubal, the likely 2024 AL Cy Young winner, came into the fifth inning, having thrown 17 scoreless innings this postseason for the upstart Tigers.
Thomas also hit a three-run home run earlier this series in the Guardians’ 7-0 Game 1 win.
The winner of Saturday’s Game 5 will head to The Bronx to take on the Yankees in the ALCS, which starts Monday night.
