Detroit – Tigers' manager AJ Hinch saved his biggest left-handed bench bat for last.

Kerry Carpenter came off the bench with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth with the Tigers trailing the Cleveland Guardians 3-2. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt had been alternating right-handed and left-handed relievers since the sixth inning, forcing Hinch to unload all five extra players from his bench.

Highlights from Tigers' 7-5 loss to Guardians

Tigers' magic number to clinch remains at 7

Carpenter was the last man standing. And he delivered a dramatic 429-foot home run into the shrubs in center field.

Alas, it was only a stay of execution for the Tigers.

Plans for a clinching party at Comerica Park on Thursday have been cancelled.

The Guardians scored four runs in the top of th

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