Wenceel Perez helps Tigers pull away, reach Division Series

A year ago in the American League Wild Card, Wenceel Perez got the Detroit Tigers’ first postseason hit in a decade to get his teammates started in the upset over the Astros. Much changed over the last 12 months for Perez and the Tigers.

They were grateful to earn a Wild Card in 2024. This year, however, Perez and his teammates were disappointed to fall into the AL Wild Card after losing what had appeared to be firm control of the AL Central until the surging Cleveland Guardians pulled ahead of them in the final week of the regular season.

Yet, Perez was tasting champagne yet again Thursday night after helping the Tigers pull away for a 6-3 victory over the Guardians in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the AL Wild Card. Detroit will now head to Seattle to face the AL West-champion Mariners in the best-of-five Division Series.

Dillon Dingler was the biggest storybook angle of Game 3, considering he grew up less than 30 miles from the Guardians’ Progressive Field. With his parents and wife in attendance, the native of Massillon, Ohio crushed a solo home run in the sixth inning to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

Happy homecoming

Dingler has left tickets for up to 16 friends and relatives in a game during previous visits to Progressive Field. The catcher’s visits to Cleveland have been special for his family since he reached the majors in 2024. The Indians/Guardians franchise, after all, is his hometown team.

“It’s obviously cool,” he said. “I grew up coming to a few games up here. I was always a longtime Guardians fan growing up. It was special. … Every time we come here, a lot of family, a lot of friends cheering on, and it’s kind of cool because all of them are Guardians fans.

“Whenever we’d come into town, they’re supporting me. Ultimately, it was very special. Kind of closing the door, winning this series.”

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The Tigers took an early 1-0 lead on Kerry Carpenter’s RBI double in the third inning. Jose Ramirez’s RBI single tied the score at 1 in the fourth inning. Two innings later, Dingler hit his solo shot to center.

“I’m so proud of Dillon,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “I’m proud of our team. You’ve got to fight, and we did, and we have. We have to continue to do that. It gets harder and harder as you go. The series get longer. When you earn it, that’s what makes it sweet.”

The Tigers definitely earned it, especially Wenceel Perez. The native of Azua, Dominican Republic was hitless in the series until he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Javy Baez led off the four-run inning with a double to left. Parker Meadows followed with a bunt single. One out later, the Guardians intentionally walked Carpenter to face the slumping Perez.

Deceptive .077 average

At that point, Perez had gone 0-for-11 in the series. He was 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Game 1. Then he was 0-for-5 with a strikeout in Game 2. Perez made the Guardians pay, however, with a two-run single to right.  

“Oh my God, my heart was pumping so hard,” Pérez told Tigers beat writers. “I was so happy. There was no better time to get my first hit in this postseason. Man, it was great.”

Perez finished the series 1-for-13 for a .077 batting average, but the one hit was crucial. The same can be said for Dingler, who hit .100 in the series. Baez hit a team-best .455 in the Wild Card. 

“Wenceel Perez didn’t have a hit this series until the biggest hit of the series,” Hinch said. “Dillon (was) not necessarily executing all of his at-bats until we really needed it. Javy Baez, toward the tail end of the season, you know, scuffling to find his way. Gets a pull-side homer in Fenway and all of a sudden takes off in the playoffs.

“We’re one good swing away from impacting games that matter the most because we’re one of the few teams still standing. And we need to embrace that.”