The Detroit Tigers dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision to the Cleveland Guardians in 10 innings on Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Progressive Field. Cleveland erased a two-run deficit to walk it off in the 10th, handing Detroit a gut-punch loss in an AL Central division game. Riley Greene was the lone offensive bright spot for the Tigers, driving in both runs on a 2-for-4 night, but it wasn't enough as Kyle Finnegan — who recorded just zero outs — surrendered two hits in the 10th to let the game slip away.

Riley Greene Carries the Tigers Offense

Detroit's offense was largely quiet against a Cleveland staff that kept the Tigers from doing much damage. Greene was the exception. He went 2-for-4 with two RBI, accounting for every run Detroit scored. Beyond Greene, the Tigers couldn't generate enough to put the game away, and that lack of production in clutch situations ultimately defined the night.

Jackson Jobe Gives Detroit a Chance

Jackson Jobe turned in a solid start, going five innings and striking out seven while allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks. It was the kind of outing that kept the Tigers in the game and gave the bullpen a workable situation to protect. Tyler Holton added a scoreless sixth, and Drew Sommers contributed 1.1 innings of two-strikeout relief without allowing an earned run.

Kenley Jansen tossed a clean 10th inning on the mound — and then came Finnegan. The right-hander couldn't record an out, giving up two hits that set up Cleveland's walk-off. It was a brutal ending to what had been a well-pitched game for most of Detroit's staff.

Cleveland Overcomes a Two-Run Deficit

The Guardians trailed by two runs at some point in this game but fought back to tie it and then win it in extras. Brayan Rocchio's home run gave Cleveland life, and Travis Bazzana added a hit and an RBI in the Cleveland lineup. Steven Kwan went 2-for-4, providing consistent contact at the top of the order. The Guardians' ability to overcome the deficit and convert in the 10th inning was the story of the game.

Cade Smith Earns the Win for Cleveland

Cleveland's Cade Smith was electric out of the bullpen, tossing two hitless innings and striking out five without issuing a walk. That's the kind of dominant relief performance that changes games, and it did exactly that — keeping Cleveland alive long enough to walk it off.

Turning Point: Finnegan's 10th-Inning Collapse

Detroit had the game within reach entering the 10th. Jansen had just completed a clean frame, and the Tigers were one inning away from escaping Cleveland with a split or better. Finnegan's inability to retire a single batter ended that possibility immediately. Two hits, no outs, game over. That sequence is the moment this one was lost.

Key Performances

  • Riley Greene (DET): 2-for-4, 2 RBI — responsible for every Detroit run scored
  • Jackson Jobe (DET): 5.0 IP, 7 K, 2 ER — gave the Tigers a fighting chance
  • Cade Smith (CLE): 2.0 IP, 5 K, 0 ER, 0 H — dominant walk-off setup
  • Brayan Rocchio (CLE): 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI — delivered the tying blow
  • Gavin Williams (CLE): 6.0 IP, 11 K, 2 ER — set the tone for Cleveland's pitching staff

What's Next for the Tigers

Detroit heads into the next stretch of the regular season needing to clean up the late-inning execution that cost them Sunday. The bullpen decisions at the back end of this game will warrant attention — specifically the sequencing that put Finnegan in a high-leverage 10th-inning situation. The Tigers have the pitching to compete in this division, as Jobe and the bulk of the staff showed Sunday, but games like this one don't come back.