Watch: Detroit Tigers and A.J. Hinch’s epic champagne celebration as team sweeps Astros to face Guardians in ALDS
The Detroit Tigers' fairytale 2024 season continued on Wednesday as they swept World Series contenders Houston Astros with a 5-2 win in the second AL Wild Card game to advance to the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians.
This was the Tigers' first playoff series win in 11 years and it was a bittersweet moment for Detroit manager A.J. Hinch as it came against the team he guided to the 2017 World Series title.
However, it didn't play much on Hinch's mind during the clubhouse celebration after his team swept the Astros. The wild celebrations from the Tigers' players kicked off after Hinch dropped an inspirational speech in the locker room.
"I'm not sure who, but somebody let the Tigers get hot!"
Hinch's Tigers have been on a remarkable journey this season as the four-time World Series champions were given a 0.2% chance to make the postseason in August.
But as Hinch said, the Tigers got hot with an inspired 33-13 run to not only make it to the playoffs but also eliminate a postseason powerhouse like the Astros in straight games.
A.J. Hinch beams with pride after Tigers sweep his former team
Although A.J. Hinch had his crowing moment with the Houston Astros during their World Series run in 2017, the former catcher was not content with guiding the Tigers just to the playoffs (via DetroitFreePress.com):
"The mental grind of the season and putting it all together for this group, this team, and not just being satisfied just getting to the playoffs, but winning a playoff series and getting to go play a familiar team," Hinch said. "I am forever grateful being a Detroit Tiger."
The Tigers might have been the underdogs heading into October, but after completing the sweep of the Astros on Wednesday, the Guardians won't take anything for granted in the ALDS starting later this week.
Only time will tell if Hinch can guide the Tigers to a fifth World Series title and get a second ring for himself. However, their scalp of Houston in the Wild Card series has caught the attention of the baseball fraternity, if they weren't already keeping tabs on their resurgence.