CLEVELAND -- Brayan Rocchio briefly leaned back in the left-handed batter’s box in the eighth inning on Wednesday, as the deep drive he connected carried out toward the wall in right field. Once it landed in the seats, Progressive Field went into a frenzy, and Rocchio let out a primal yell as he rounded first base.

The legend of “Playoff Rocchio” added another chapter on Wednesday, when the 24-year-old crushed a go-ahead solo homer in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series. It was one of three homers that launched the Guardians to a 6-1 win over the Tigers at Progressive Field, and forced a win-or-go-home Game 3 on Thursday.

Rocchio’s blast marked the first go-ahead home run in the eighth inning or later when facing elimination in Cleveland postseason his

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