Brayan Rocchio HR sparks 5-run inning as Guardians force Game 3 - ESPN

CLEVELAND — How far can a team go by repeatedly dancing away from a season-ending precipice? The Cleveland Guardians are determined to find out.

The Guardians, boosted by a five-run eighth-inning outburst that began with an unlikely home run from Brayan Rocchio, beat the Detroit Tigers 6-1 on Wednesday to force a decisive Game 3 in the AL Wild Card Series.

In many ways, it was fitting that Rocchio ignited the season-saving rally because the trajectory of his rags-to-riches season has been in lockstep with the team around him. And, yes, the blast was unlikely, but unlikely is where the Guardians seem to be most comfortable.

«We always say we try to always play without pressure,» Rocchio said through the team's interpreter. «That's our type of ball. We just play and we realize we're going to play until the last out. Even if we're down by 10, we'll know we'll continue to try to play that type of ball.»

For seven innings, the Guardians and Tigers engaged in the kind of low-scoring, close game that frustrates hitters and thrills pitchers alike. For Cleveland, the frustration was an inability to do much of anything after George Valera's first-inning home run. Through seven frames, Cleveland had just two hits and five baserunners overall.

For Detroit, the frustration was very different. The Tigers had 15 baserunners for the game. And yet one Cleveland pitcher after another managed to wriggle out of trouble, usually with an inning-ending strikeout.

«It was a tough day,» Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. «Obviously, they made the most of their opportunities and we left 15 guys on. I think that paints the picture that was today.»

The score was tied 1-1 entering the Cleveland half of the eighth. With one out, Rocchio stepped to the