By tf-lawyer.com In a thrilling matchup on October 7th, the Cleveland Guardians faced off against the Detroit Tigers, ultimately losing 0-3, which tied the divisional series at one game apiece. Despite the loss, one play stood out and became a hot topic among fans: a remarkable catch by Chinese American outfielder Steven Kwan in the eighth inning. After the game, Kwan described the catch as a risk-free gamble, likening it to playing with money won at a casino.
Starting for the Guardians was Matthew Boyd, who pitched 4.2 innings, allowing four hits but no runs. The Guardians relied on their strong bullpen, known for its resilience. However, things got tense in the eighth inning when Hunter Gaddis faced a jam, with two outs and runners on first and second. The ball was then handed over to closer Emmanuel Clase to deal with Wenceel Pérez, who hit a line drive toward left field. Kwan made an incredible diving catch, but the Tigers challenged whether the ball had touched the ground first. Ultimately, the call was upheld, sparing the Guardians from a potential scoring play.
According to Statcast, the catch had only a 10% chance of success. Kwan explained his thought process during the play, saying, “With two outs, if I let that ball drop, they score. If I miss the catch, they still score. So, it felt like playing with money I won at the casino—there wasn’t much risk involved.”
After making the catch, Kwan excitedly raised his glove, prompting a challenge from the Tigers. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch commented, “Seeing him jump up with excitement, I couldn’t tell if he was acting or if he actually made the catch.” He added that the game’s late stage left no room for hesitation regarding the challenge.
The Tigers missed that scoring opportunity but capitalized in the ninth inning when Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run homer, marking the first time Clase had allowed more than two runs on a home run in his career.
