DETROIT (AP) — Steven Kwan hit a leadoff triple and scored to help Cleveland Guardians get off to a solid start and beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 Wednesday night.
A few hours before the first pitch, the Tigers fired general manager Al Avila to end his seven-year tenure without a postseason appearance.
“Today is another reminder that we haven’t succeeded,” said manager AJ Hinch, whose team is 43-69. “The record reflects where we’re at.”
Cleveland (58-52) started the day tied with Minnesota for first place in the AL Central.
“It makes waking up every day such a pleasure,” said James Karinchak, who had three strikeouts and stranded three runners in the eighth inning. “Ultimately, this is what you want to do at the beginning of the season. You want to be playing for something.”
The last-place Tigers, meanwhile, are 16 games back and relegated to playing for pride while the franchise searches for a new general manager.
“It’s the unfortunate reality for any of us,” Detroit catcher Eric Haase said. “Guys can get sent up, sent down, shipped out.”
Aaron Civale started for Cleveland after being on the 15-day injured list with wrist inflammation and retired the first nine batters. Civale gave up two runs and three hits while striking out four over four innings.
Karinchak and five other relievers — including Bryan Shaw (5-2) — combined for five innings of scoreless relief. Emmanuel Clase gave up one hit in the ninth, earning his 26th save.
Karinchak struck out Javier Baez with two on in the eighth inning. With the bases loaded, Karinchak struck out Haase and Kerry Carpenter — in his major league debut — to trigger an demonstrative, one-man celebration as the reliever walked toward the dugout.
“That was a tightrope, but he got out…