The Detroit Tigers had their best chess piece waiting on the bench and ready for the biggest moment of the game.

Kerry Carpenter, a slugger who swings from the left side of the plate, entered as a pinch-hitter for a favorable matchup with Cleveland Guardians right-handed reliever Cade Smith with two outs in the ninth inning.

He blasted a game-tying home run.

But the Tigers failed to complete the comeback in extra innings, losing 7-5 to the Guardians on Tuesday, Sept. 16, in the first of three games in the series at Comerica Park. The Guardians scored four runs in the top of the 10th, whereas the Tigers scored just two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Right-handed reliever Will Vest allowed the four runs, of which three were earned. Expert MLB daily picks: Unique MLB betting insig

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