Dillon Dingler’s first career postseason hit was long awaited, but it couldn’t have come at a better time for his Detroit Tigers, or in a better place for the 27-year-old Massilon, Ohio, native.
Dingler, a 2020 second-round pick out of Ohio State who didn’t make his MLB debut until last season, began the AL wild-card series against the Cleveland Guardians 0-for-9.
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Then, in one swing at Cleveland’s Progressive Field, the catcher collected not only his first postseason hit but also his first postseason home run and RBI.
Dingler, two innings removed from throwing out a steal-hungry José Ramírez, delivered a 401-foot solo shot to left-center that gave Detroit a 2-1 lead in to the top of the sixth inning.
His blast broke a tie and the dam holding back a flood of Tigers offense.
After leaving 15 runners on base in a Game 2 defeat, Detroit recorded more hits with runners in scoring position during the top of the seventh than it had all series, en route to a 6-3 victory Thursday.
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The Tigers lost a 15.5-game July lead in the AL Central, which the Guardians pried away from Detroit in the final week of the regular season to complete the largest divisional comeback in MLB history.
While Cleveland won the division, Detroit is the one advancing to a division series.
The Tigers will now face the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS.
This story is being updated.
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