Horrible start dooms Tigers in 7-0 loss to Guardians in Game 1 of ALDS [Video]

CLEVELAND — Five batters in, the Tigers were down 5-0 and finished.

For the first time in months, Detroit didn’t look baseball’s hottest team or like it belonged anywhere near the playoffs.

Manager A.J. Hinch’s decision to not use a traditional starter in Game 1 of the AL Division Series backfired as Tyler Holton failed to record an out and reliever Reese Olson gave up a three-run homer to Lane Thomas in the first inning a s the Cleveland Guardians rolled to a 7-0 win.

The Tigers came in feeling confident after going 31-13 since Aug. 11 to earn a postseason berth before sweeping AL West champion Houston in the wild-card round.

But a horrific start — set up by third baseman Zach McKinstry’s fielding error in the first — led to Detroit being handed its worst shutout loss …