CLEVELAND (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortunes that has defined the American League Central race, the Cleveland Guardians completed their improbable climb back to the top, erasing a two-run deficit with a bizarre sixth-inning rally to defeat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 on Tuesday night at Progressive Field.

The victory, sealed by a two-run single from Daniel Schneemann in the seventh inning, pulled the Guardians (85-72) into a tie with the Tigers (85-72) for first place in the division. Cleveland, which trailed Detroit by 15 1/2 games on July 8 and was still 12 1/2 back on Aug. 25, has won 11 of its last 12 games, including 17 of 22 in September. The Tigers have lost seven straight and 10 of 11, watching their once-massive lead evaporate completely.

A pitchers’ duel between Detroit ace Tarik Skubal and Cleveland’s Gavin Williams dominated the early innings before the game turned in the sixth. Skubal, who entered the game with a 13-5 record, had largely silenced the Guardians’ bats, allowing just one hit through five innings while staked to a 2-0 lead.

Detroit scored first in the third inning when Zach McKinstry led off with a ground-rule double and scored on a double by Wenceel Pérez. The Tigers added to their lead in the sixth when Riley Greene launched a solo home run, his 35th of the season, off Williams.

The bottom of the sixth, however, unraveled for Skubal and the Tigers in unconventional fashion. Steven Kwan led off with a bunt single. Angel Martínez then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Skubal fielded the ball and threw it wildly past first base, allowing Kwan to race to third and Martínez to second. José Ramírez followed by driving in Kwan with an infield single to third base, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

After a strikeout, Gabriel Arias hit a grounder to first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who stepped on the bag for the out as Ramírez alertly never stopped running, scoring from second to tie the game on the unconventional fielder’s choice. The play was scored a groundout, with Ramírez scoring on the throw.

The Guardians took the lead for good an inning later against the Detroit bullpen. With two outs, Austin Hedges walked and Kwan doubled, putting runners on second and third. Schneemann, pinch-hitting, then lined a single to left field off Kyle Finnegan, scoring both Hedges and Kwan to provide critical insurance runs.

Williams (12-5) earned the win despite Greene’s homer, striking out a season-high 12 batters over six innings while allowing four hits. The Cleveland bullpen was dominant, as Erik Sabrowski and Hunter Gaddis struck out five combined over two hitless innings before Cade Smith worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save.

Skubal (13-6) was charged with the loss, his final line showing three runs, only one earned, on four hits over six innings with eight strikeouts. The Tigers managed only five hits total and struck out 18 times against Cleveland pitching.

The announced crowd of 29,571 watched the 2-hour, 30-minute game that saw Detroit pitchers throw 43 strikes and 58 balls, while Cleveland pitchers threw 30 strikes and 68 balls.

The two teams, now deadlocked with five games remaining in the regular season, will continue their critical three-game series Wednesday night at Progressive Field.