DETROIT — Lane Thomas ended the Cleveland Guardians ‘ 20-inning scoreless streak with an RBI single in the first inning of AL Division Series Game 4 against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.
Steven Kwan led off with an opposite-field single to left, extending his postseason hitting streak to nine games. He tied Tony Fernández, one behind Kenny Lofton’s franchise-record, 10-game run in 1995.
Kyle Manzardo singled, José Ramírez flied out and Kwan stole third. Josh Naylor struck out and Thomas drove a first-pitch sinker to right against right-hander Reese Olson, who did not allow a run in the first inning of 22 regular-season starts.
Cleveland won the series opener 7-0 as Thomas hit a three-run homer in a five-run first. The Guardians tacked on two more runs in the sixth.
Detroit won the next two games and was within a win of reaching the AL Championship Series for the first time since 2013.
Cleveland entered having lost 11 straight games when facing postseason elimination, since winning Game 6 of the 1997 World Series at the Florida Marlins.
If the Guardians extend the series, they will host Game 5 on Saturday.
