Guardians rally to 5-2 win over Tigers, tie for AL Central lead

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians pulled off a dramatic comeback Tuesday night, rallying for a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field to knot the American League Central heading into the decisive three-game series. Cleveland’s win erased a double-digit deficit in the division race that existed in July and gave the Guardians the season-series tiebreaker after the wild sixth inning that decided the game.

The game turned in the sixth. Cleveland manufactured a rally that included a successful bunt by Steven Kwan and a series of infield hits. Defending Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal struggled in the frame, committing an error, throwing a wild pitch and balking in the same inning, a sequence Opta said had not occurred before involving a former Cy Young winner. Skubal also hit Guardians outfielder David Fry in the head with a 99 mph fastball; trainers removed Fry after the incident and he was taken out of the game, local reports said. The inning produced three runs that proved decisive for Cleveland.

Gavin Williams delivered six innings with 12 strikeouts, allowing four hits and two earned runs, and the Guardians bullpen — Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith...