It was a comedy of errors at Progressive Field on Friday night, but the New York Yankees managed to pull out an 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. With the victory, the Yankees are now up 3-1 in the American League Championship Series. They can clinch a trip to the World Series with a win in Game 5 on Saturday.
But New York first baseman Anthony Rizzo and Cleveland Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Rizzo’s inability to field a throw from Yankees reliever Clay Holmes at first base allowed Cleveland to get a short-lived 6-6 tie. In the top of the ninth, Rocchio booted a grounder and let New York go back on top. Gleyber Torres’ RBI single also played a role in the ninth-inning hijinx for the Yankees.
New York Yankees Deliver In Clutch
The Yankees’ rally came against Guardians reliever Emmanuel Clase, who faltered for a second straight night. He could not seal the deal, though, and now Yankees manager Aaron Boone and his Bronx Bombers can earn a trip to the Fall Classic. Clase gave up two runs in his outing as he picked up the loss for the Cleveland Guardians.
Gleyber Torres adds another in the 9th 🤯 pic.twitter.com/IABLai56BA
— MLB (@MLB) October 19, 2024
New York put together three singles off Clase. The Yankees got Tommy Kahnle to close out the ninth against Cleveland, setting things up nicely as the game ended late Friday night. In Game 3, Clase gave up back-to-back homers to New York and could not get the job done. Yet in that game, though, Cleveland connected on two two-run homers in their final at-bats to get the victory.
But the Yankees on Friday night got some help from sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto. Stanton smashed a three-run blast and Soto added a two-run homer for New York.
Cleveland Guardians Need Some Help
Now, the Guardians are again facing postseason elimination. In the American League Division Series, Cleveland rallied to move past the Detroit Tigers. Their task, though, is much harder entering Saturday’s game. The Guardians have to win three straight games, including two at Yankee Stadium, to reach the World Series.
On Friday night, Cleveland scored three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to forge a 6-6 tie. The Guardians did have a threat in the ninth by putting two runners on base. Kahnle, though, got the job done for Boone and his teammates.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s Game 5, Guardians right-handed pitcher Tanner Bibee gets the ball from Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt. Bibee didn’t get much of a chance to show off his pitching prowess in Game 2. Vogt pulled Bibee from the game in the second inning, a move that Bibee didn’t seem happy about when TBS cameras caught him.
Vogt didn’t have second thoughts about bringing Bibee back to face the Yankees’ lineup. “He’s been our best pitcher all year,” Vogt said before Game 3, The Associated Press reported. “I can’t wait to get him back out there, and he feels good. He feels ready. He wants to pitch again, so we’re excited to have Tanner back out there.”
In the Game 2 start, Bibee gave up five hits at Yankee Stadium. Vogt put hard-throwing reliever Cade Smith out there to face New York slugger Aaron Judge.
Bibee wasn’t happy with Vogt’s move but admitted that he understood what his manager was doing in that situation. “He’s given me some leash earlier on in the year, and it just comes down to trying to win the game, but I get that,” Bibee said. “It’s just some stuff I’m not going to like. But it’s not my job to like it. It’s my job to get outs.”
The New York Yankees will send Carlos Rodón, the Game 1 winner, back out there in a key start. Rodón kept the Cleveland Guardians’ offense in check, allowing just one run and three hits in six innings of work.
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