The Cleveland Guardians triumphed over the Detroit Tigers by a score of 5-1, thus capturing sole possession of the first spot in the American League Central for the first time since April 22. This victory came after a previous match against the Tigers allowed them to equalize in the standings.

The Tigers got off to a strong start on Wednesday, with outfielder Parker Meadows hitting a sacrifice fly in the third inning, pushing Detroit ahead 1-0. However, the Guardians responded decisively, led by rookie George Valera, who hit a two-run homer in the same inning. Steven Kwan later contributed an insurance run in the fifth frame, while Jose Ramirez scored two more runs in the seventh inning, solidifying a 5-1 lead.

At one point, it seemed the AL Central race was decided, especially when the Tigers enjoyed a 10-game lead on September 3, and even a remarkable 14-game lead back on July 9. Following weeks of negotiation, the Guardians traded long-time ace Shane Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays for pitching prospect Khal Stephen. Compounding this, closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on administrative leave amid an MLB investigation into gambling allegations, suggesting Cleveland’s chances were dwindling.

Nonetheless, the Tigers faltered in September, managing only 5 wins against 15 losses, while the Guardians excelled, winning 18 of 23 games, including Wednesday’s crucial match. Not long ago, CBS Sports’ own Dayn Perry analyzed the potential historical significance of the Tigers’ ongoing collapse.