The best sports stories have a notable nadir, a definable depth from which unexpected awesomeness emerges.

For the 2025 Cleveland Guardians, it came on July 6, when they were one strike away from beating the division-leading Tigers and snapping a nine-game losing streak, only to somehow allow seven runs across the ninth and 10th innings to lose, 7-2, and fall a season-high 15 1/2 games back of Detroit in the American League Central standings.

“A kick in the pants,” manager Stephen Vogt called it. “Gut-wrenching. Heart-wrenching.”

And now?

History-making.

With their thrilling, 5-2 , comeback win over reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and the Tigers on Tuesday night at Progressive Field -- amid a stunning 17-5 September surge -- the Guardians have officially filled that 15 1/2

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